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El Paso County Articles

Buc-ee’s buys parcel for over $10 million

Highlights

  • Buc-ee's EPCO LLC purchased the 53.4-acre parcel west of I-25 and south of County Line Road for more than $10 million from Monument Ridge West LLC.
  • Colorado Division of Water Resources permits were issued for a Denver Aquifer well and an Arapahoe Aquifer well with a combined maximum output of 880,000 gallons per month or 28,000 gallons per day.
  • Prior analysis estimated an average daily demand of 37,300 gallons with a maximum daily demand of 113,600 gallons.
  • Monument Sanitation District has committed to providing sewer service to the parcel.
  • Development plans for the parcel have not yet been submitted to El Paso County.
March 25, landfill on the property atop Monument hill proposed for a future Buc-ee’s. Photo by Allen Alchian.

By John Heiser

In early April, for more than $10 million, Buc-ee’s EPCO LLC purchased from Monument Ridge West LLC the combined parcel west of I-25 and south of County Line Road, totaling about 53.4 acres.

On March 19, the Colorado Division of Water Resources issued permits for two wells on the parcel. One permit is for the Denver Aquifer with a depth of 1,230 to 1,795 feet, pumping up to 3.5 million gallons per year. The second permit is for the Arapahoe Aquifer with a depth of 1,825 to 2,250 feet, pumping up to 7.1 million gallons per year. Each well would be limited to pumping 150 gallons per minute and must be more than 600 feet from any existing wells. The two wells could supply up to 880,000 gallons per month or 28,000 gallons per day. The analysis submitted to Palmer Lake estimated an average day demand of 37,300 gallons and a maximum day demand of 113,600 gallons.

The Monument Sanitation District has committed to providing sewer service to the parcel. See MSD article on page < 13 >.

The El Paso County Planning and Community Development Department reports that development plans for the parcel have not been submitted.

John Heiser can be contacted at johnheiser@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County articles

El Paso Board of County Commissioners, March 31 and April 9 – Highway 105B project agreement approved

Highlights

  • The BOCC approved a final plat for a five-lot Red Rock Acres Subdivision west of Highway 105, with all required studies and reports accepted, including water sufficiency, drainage, and traffic impact analyses.
  • The highway project on Highway 105 is advancing eastward, with the BOCC already authorized to purchase and hold real estate and personal property for the county's capital projects related to this widening effort being done is coordination with the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority.
  • The Willow Springs Town of Monument Annexation Impact report was acknowledged, noting about 39.6 acres west of Willow Ranch Road and north of Forest Lakes Drive could be annexed in the future; no action was required at this time.
  • The Monument Planning Commission will review the annexation proposal on April 8 and the Monument Town Council on May 4.

By Marlene Brown

The Highway 105 widening project continues moving east. The BOCC has the authority to purchase and hold real estate and personal property for the use of the county when deemed by the board to be in the best interest of the county and its capital projects. On March 31, the BOCC approved an agreement for the Public Works Department to construct a Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority project known as Highway 105B.

On April 9, the BOCC approved the Final Plat for Red Rock Acres Subdivision SF2513 for Lots 1-6, located west of Highway 105 between Red Rock Ranch Drive and Rockbrook Road. The approval was based upon the conformance of the applicant who had submitted all issues that were required, to include water sufficiency studies, adequate storm drainage plans, traffic impact studies, and other reports for the county and the state. The lots will be served by individual wells and on-site septic systems. Approval was unanimous on the consent agenda.

Also on the agenda was the Willow Springs Town of Monument Annexation Impact report. The Town of Monument requested that about 39.6 acres west of Willow Ranch Road and north of Forest Lakes Drive be annexed. The BOCC acknowledged the report of the potential impacts for the future annexation. No action by the BOCC was required, and it was to be reviewed on April 8 by the Monument Planning Commission and on May 4 by the Monument Town Council.

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The BOCC usually meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. at 200 S. Cascade Ave. Suite 100, Colorado Springs. The BOCC Land Use Committee meets on the second and fourth Thursdays as needed. Call 719-520-7276 for more information. Go to bocc.elpasoco.com or https://www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso for meeting schedules and agendas.

Marlene Brown may be reached at marlenebrown@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Board of County Commissioners articles

El Paso Board of County Commissioners, March 17 – Highway 105 easements approved

Highlights

  • The BOCC approved temporary and permanent easements along Highway 105, Lake Woodmoor Drive to Martingale Drive for construction, drainage, slope, and access related to the Highway 105B project.
  • Owners have accepted the MOA, and the Permanent Easements and Special Warranty Deed were approved with compensation accepted.
  • At the March 17 meeting, the BOCC approved the 2026 MOA for the Black Forest Slash and Mulch Program, operated since 1995 by SAMCOM to grind slash into mulch and distribute it free, with ongoing volunteer involvement.
  • The county released a statement clarifying Buc-ee's has not submitted any development or related application in El Paso County, and noted property owners' rights and neutral Board proceedings prior to hearings.
  • A Town of Monument waiver was approved to allow annexation of 18.522 acres along Beacon Lite Road with no service extension, district impact, or school impact, enabling the annexation.
  • Flying Horse North rezoning was approved for a Preliminary Plan/Planned Unit Development covering 299 single-family lots, with significant open space and right-of-way, located at Black Forest Road and Hodgen Road.

By Marlene Brown

During the March meetings and as the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPRTA) widening of Highway 105, also known as the Highway 105B project, continues moving east, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved temporary and permanent easements along Highway 105, Lake Woodmoor Drive to Martingale Drive. Easements will be used for construction, drainage, slope, and ingress and egress to the construction site.

The owners have agreed to accept the Memorandum of Agreement (MOA), and the Permanent Easements and Special Warranty Deed have been approved and compensation has been accepted.

At the March 17 meeting, the BOCC approved the 2026 MOA for the Black Forest Slash and Mulch Program. The program was started in 1995 by a group of volunteers on land leased from the State Board of Land Commissioners, adjacent to Herring Road, to accept slash. Slash is defined as tree debris, including branches, leaves, and pine needles. The slash is then ground into mulch, which is given away free of charge.

The volunteers created a nonprofit corporation known as SAMCOM (Slash and Mulch Committee) in 2011 and have entered into the MOA every year since then. SAMCOM has successfully managed the program, which was approved by the BOCC for another year. The program promotes food forest health, effective long-term strategies, and wildfire hazard mitigation, which includes educating residents on reducing hazardous fuels on private land.

The BOCC released the following statement on March 10 regarding Buc-ee’s

“Buc-ee’s has not submitted an application to El Paso County for development, nor has any development application been submitted for the referenced property. We cannot speak to any intentions of Buc-ee’s or the property owner.

“Property owners are not required to disclose their future plans for a property when requesting a boundary line adjustment or grading permit. Please direct any and all questions related to intentions to those parties.

“Property owners have the right to make decisions about their property, as long as they are following the law. The county follows processes to allow property owners to make changes to their property in compliance with the law. The county takes seriously its legal obligations and the rights of all interested parties, including respecting the constitutional private property rights of citizens. Under the law, property owners are entitled to a fair process where the Board of County Commissioners remains neutral (including no ex-parte communication) prior to conducting a formal hearing where they review evidence and make a decision based on criteria previously established in the Land Development Code.” https://planningdevelopment.elpaso.com/buc-ees/#

Monument waiver approved

The Town of Monument (TOM) requested approval of a waiver for an annexation impact report for 18.522 acres, consisting of about 1.67 miles of public right-of-way known as Beacon Lite Road and Beacon Lite Road Water Tank Site, also known as Lot 1 of the TOM Beacon Lite Road Tank Subdivision Exemption Plat. Because of the annexation of the right-of-way and the municipal utility tank site, there is no extension of services, no district impacts, and no effect on schools, so no impact report is required. The resolution was approved by the BOCC, and the TOM can move forward with the annexation.

Flying Horse North rezoning approved

Preliminary Plan/Planned Unit Development—A request by PRI #2, LLC c/o Elite Properties of America, for approval of a map rezoning of 1499.72 acres, Flying Horse North Filings nos. 6-8. The Preliminary Plan shows 299 single-family lots, includes 91.5 acres of open space, and 26.3 acres of dedicated public right-of-way. The property is located at the southwest corner of the intersection of Black Forest Road and Hodgen Road. The request was approved, 5-0.

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The BOCC usually meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. at 200 S. Cascade Ave. Suite 100, Colorado Springs. The BOCC Land Use Committee meets on the second and fourth Thursdays as needed. Call 719-520-7276 for more information. Go to bocc.elpasoco.com or https://www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso for meeting schedules and agendas.

Marlene Brown may be reached at marlenebrown@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Board of County Commissioners articles

El Paso County Planning Commission, March 5 and 19 Two requests recommended for approval

Highlights

  • The El Paso County Planning Commission heard two requests in Northern El Paso County during its regular bi-monthly meetings.
  • Red Rock Subdivision GTG Redrock LLC sought approval of a 14.958-acre Final Plat creating five single-family lots, with minimum lot sizes of 2.5 acres and on individual wells and on-site septic systems; a Continuance to March 19 was requested and granted for conditions and reports, with a hearing set for April 9 before the BOCC.
  • PRI#2 LLC c/o Elite Properties of America requested rezoning of 1,499.72 acres for Flying Horse North Filing No. 6-8 PUD to include 299 single-family lots and four tracts directing 91.5 acres of open space and 26.3 acres of public right-of-way; EPCPC recommended approval, noting all BOCC conditions had been met.

By Marlene Brown

At its regular bi-monthly meetings, the El Paso County Planning Commission (EPCPC) heard two requests regarding issues in Northern El Paso County.

On March 5, Red Rock Subdivision GTG Redrock LLC requested approval of a 14.958-acre Final Plat creating five single-family lots. The site is south of Highway 105 between Red Rock Ranch Drive and Rockbrook Road. The requested lots have a minimum lot size of 2.5 acres and will be on individual wells and on-site septic systems. There was a Request for Continuance to March 19 for time to complete all conditions and reports. The EPCPC approved the request at the March 26 meeting for a hearing to be set for April 9 for the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC).

On March 19, PRI#2 LLC c/o Elite Properties of America requested approval of rezoning 1,499.72 acres for Flying Horse North Filing No. 6-8 Planned Unit Development to include 299 single-family residential lots, and four tracts to include 91.5 acres of open space and 26.3 acres of land dedicated to public right-of way. The EPCPC recommended approval, with all conditions having been met by the BOCC.

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The EPCPC normally meets on the first and third Monday of the month at 9 a.m. at 2880 International Circle, Suite 110, in Colorado Springs. At 9:00 am. You can also view hearings remotely at https://planningdevelopment.elpasoco.com/planning-community-development/2025-hearings-schedule/.

Marlene Brown can be contacted at marlenebrown@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Planning Commission articles

Buc-ee’s applies to El Paso County to expand parcel

Highlights

  • Vertex Consulting Services, on behalf of Interstate Properties Ltd., applied to El Paso County for a boundary line adjustment to convey about 11 acres to Monument Ridge West LLC, potentially expanding the Buc-ee's parcel to about 53 acres.
  • The plan relies on county rules that allow an administrative boundary adjustment if it does not change the water supply for either lot. The application is available for viewing online.
  • Public opposition has been voiced, including a legal objection from Integrity Matters' chief counsel alleging water-supply changes and conflicts of interest; if persuaded, the county may refer the matter to a Board of County Commissioners hearing.
  • The Town of Monument has initiated a flagpole annexation process for a portion of Beacon Lite Road and the water-tank parcel, which could influence future water-service arrangements for Buc-ee's.
  • If the boundary line adjustment is approved and if Monument annexes the water-tank parcel, the Buc-ee's parcel would then adjoin Town of Monument property, triggering a potential opportunity for annexation.
  • The Monument Town Council has enacted an ordinance prohibiting water service to properties north of the Palmer Divide, a factor that may affect Buc-ee's access to town water.

By John Heiser

In early January, Vertex Consulting Services, representing Robert Ferguson, managing partner and president of Interstate Properties Ltd., applied to El Paso County for approval of a property boundary adjustment to convey about 11 acres to Monument Ridge West LLC, owners of the parcel proposed for the controversial Buc-ee’s travel center. The application, if approved, would expand the Buc-ee’s parcel to about 53 acres.

The parcel being conveyed lies south of the Monument Ridge West parcel. The southern edge of the parcel being conveyed is adjacent to the parcel containing the Town of Monument water tank.

The application was made under El Paso County Land Development code section 7.2.2.E.4, which permits the action to be approved by the director of the Planning and Community Development Department provided certain criteria are satisfied. Among those criteria is a requirement that “The boundary line adjustment will not result in a change in the water supply for either lot.” The application can be viewed at https://tinyurl.com/buc-eesboundary.

Numerous public comments have been submitted opposing approval of the boundary line adjustment. In addition, Kat Gayle, Integrity Matters’ chief legal counsel, filed a letter objecting to administrative approval of the boundary line adjustment, alleging, among other issues, potential changes to the water supply and conflicts of interest. If the county is persuaded by those arguments, the decision on the boundary line adjustment would be referred to a hearing before the Board of County Commissioners. The public comments and Integrity Matters’ letter can be found under the “Additional Documents” section at https://tinyurl.com/buc-eesboundary.

On Feb. 2, the Town of Monument has started a process to use a “flagpole annexation” of a portion of Beacon Lite Road and the parcel containing the town’s water tank. See the Monument Town Council article on page < 8 >.

If the county approves the boundary line adjustment and the town annexes the parcel containing the tank, the expanded Buc-ee’s parcel would be adjacent to Town of Monument property. Per state statute C.R.S. § 31-12-105(1)(e.3) regarding flagpole annexations, an opportunity for annexation must be offered to owners of abutting parcels under the same conditions as the initial annexation. If Buc-ee’s were to apply for annexation to Monument, the town would be required to prepare an impact report and hold hearings to approve or disapprove the annexation.

On Feb. 17, the Monument Town Council approved an ordinance which prohibits the town from providing water service to properties located north of the Palmer Divide. Depending on the exact path of the Palmer Divide, that ordinance might or might not prevent Buc-ee’s from obtaining water from the town. See the Monument Town Council article on page < 8 >.

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John Heiser can be contacted at johnheiser@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County articles

State of the Tri-Lakes Region and Economic Update, Jan. 29 – From national to regional to local

Highlights

  • The Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce held the State of the Tri-Lakes Region and Economic Update on Jan. 9 at the Colorado Springs Marriott Hotel, featuring local leaders and UCCS economist Dr. Bill Craighead.
  • Craighead warned that U.S. growth is slowing due to population trends and immigration policies, with labor supply declines, rising unemployment, and challenges for job seekers amid a fragile consumer environment.
  • He noted regional positives such as strong consumer spending, potential tax refunds from H.R.1, low oil prices, and easing tariff pressures, but cautioned about equity in Fed policy and signs of AI-driven stock exuberance alongside solid productivity.
  • El Paso County officials highlighted incentives like the Pikes Peak Enterprise Zone and a Business Loan Fund, plus federal funding avenues and housing programs to support growth and development.
  • Monument and Palmer Lake leaders outlined ongoing efforts to diversify the economy, expand retail and housing, manage growth prudently, and address uncertainties such as Buc-ee's potential annexation in Palmer Lake.

By Jackie Burhans

The Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce (TLCOC) hosted the State of the Tri-Lakes Region and Economic Update on Jan. 9 at the Colorado Springs Marriott Hotel. The event, subtitled “From Fed to Front Door,” highlighted an economics professor from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS), a county commissioner, and two mayors, as well as the president and CEO of TLCOC.

Economic update

TLCOC board Chair Mark Bittle of Connectionmark LLC welcomed attendees, followed by remarks from presenting sponsor Pinnacle Advanced Primary Care.

Program Director Dr. Bill Craighead said the UCCS Economic Forum serves as a community resource providing weekly economic forecasts and analysis. He said U.S. economic growth is expected to slow due to population decline and immigration policies. Growth depends largely on workers ages 25 to 64, and low turnover and staffing shortages signal weak confidence in job availability. Labor supply and demand have both declined, unemployment has risen, and job seekers—including recent high school and college graduates—face challenges.

Consumer spending remains strong, but warning signs include rising loan delinquencies, the loss of Affordable Care Act subsidies, and cuts to SNAP and Medicaid, Craighead said. On the positive side, the federal H.R.1 bill is expected to reduce tax withholding and boost refunds, oil and gas prices should remain low, and tariff-related inflation pressures should ease, though prices will not fall. He also noted tension at the Federal Reserve between controlling inflation and unemployment, concerns about its independence, and signs of AI-driven exuberance in the stock market, even as productivity growth remains solid.Regionally, Craighead described Tri-Lakes as an affluent area within an affluent state. Colorado continues to attract college-educated residents and has a high share of military members and veterans, along with a relatively low percentage of foreign-born residents. The Pikes Peak region ranks 10th nationally for veterans who have higher education and income. Monument’s population is growing rapidly, while Palmer Lake’s growth is slower. El Paso County is expected to see gradual improvement over the next two years, with slower growth statewide and nationally. A high concentration of residents in their 30s and a surge in young children will affect future childcare and school needs.

The local economy has added only about 100 jobs per month in recent years, largely due to boom-and-bust cycles in residential construction. Building permits began to rebound in 2025, while the median age of first-time homebuyers remained steady at 31 to 36. Immigration-related workforce constraints and tariffs on materials such as copper, aluminum, steel, and kitchen cabinets continue to pressure construction. Housing affordability has shown modest improvement, with rents declining and housing costs flattening.

Above: On Jan. 29, the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce hosted its annual “State of Tri-Lakes” event with updates on the national, regional, and local economy as well as presentations by county and town leaders on resources, direction, and strategy for the region. Photo by Jackie Burhans.

Craighead concluded that the economy is slowing, but consumers remain resilient, though with a persistent sense of fragility. He said the region remains prosperous but is experiencing a temporary slowdown tied to construction cycles, with cautious optimism for a modest rebound this year.

El Paso County

El Paso County Commissioner Bill Wysong, who represents District 3, including the Tri‑Lakes region, said the county takes a long-term approach to growth and resilience. He outlined business, community, and housing incentives available to support the area.

Wysong highlighted the Pikes Peak Enterprise Zone, which offers tax credits for donations and investments in economically distressed areas with high unemployment, low per capita income, or slow population growth. Projects in the zone include Fox Run Park and Lewis‑Palmer School District’s Career Innovation Center. He encouraged businesses to take advantage of the program.

The county also offers a Business Loan Fund that provides up to $50,000 for private, for‑profit small businesses and startups. Wysong cited a Palmer Lake business that received $37,000 for vehicles, equipment, and other fixed assets. He also discussed the Colorado Small Business Development Center, which serves the Pikes Peak region by providing free consulting, training, workshops, and resources to entrepreneurs and small businesses.

In addition, the county acts as a conduit for Community Development Block Grants, directing about $550,000 in federal funds to Tri‑Lakes nonprofits, including Forge Evolution, Project Angel Heart, Tri‑Lakes Cares, and Mt. Carmel Veterans Service Center. The grants also helped fund Americans with Disabilities Act upgrades to the Heart of Monument Play Park, now under development.

Wysong closed by highlighting housing programs available through the county, including the Pikes Peak Down Payment Assistance Program, which offers up to 5% in forgivable loans for home purchases and 1% grants for healthcare workers, teachers, and first responders. He encouraged residents and businesses to contact Crystal LaTier, executive director of the county’s Economic Development Department, to learn how the county can help.

Town of Monument

Monument Mayor Mitch LaKind said 2025 brought national and regional economic uncertainty, requiring the town to slow down and remain disciplined. Despite the challenges, Monument moved forward by making midyear adjustments, adopting a three‑year strategic plan, and maintaining reserves at 32%. He also noted the work of a citizen‑led advisory committee focused on self‑sustaining growth.

The town continued efforts to expand its retail and sales tax base, including a public‑private partnership between the Triview Metropolitan District and the Legacy at Jackson Landing project. LaKind said the Falcon Commerce Center is emerging as a logistics and service hub that generates jobs while incorporating on‑site open space. Monument is a finalist for Project Cobalt, a proposed fabrication facility that could bring 135 high‑wage jobs, supported by $450,000 in state Economic Development Commission‑approved incentives. On the housing front, the Conexus Lot 2 project will offer custom single‑family homes with trail access, dark‑sky lighting, and low‑water landscaping.

LaKind said the town’s focus extends beyond buildings and balance sheets to the quality of place. He described Monument as a regional destination and cited the town’s investment in a public restroom to support tourism, events, and downtown activity. Downtown continues to see incremental reinvestment through new local retail, maker spaces, business expansion, and rebranding.

He thanked the Town Council and town staff for their professionalism and care, led by Town Manager Madeline VanDenHoek, and said progress happens when people show up, work together, and stay engaged over time.

Town of Palmer Lake

Palmer Lake Mayor Dennis Stern opened by addressing what he called the “elephant—or beaver—in the room”: Buc‑ee’s proposal to annex into the town and build a 74,000‑square‑foot travel center at the southwest corner of Interstate 25 and County Line Road. Stern said he would not “bet a bag of nuggets” that Buc‑ee’s will ultimately locate in Palmer Lake, noting the outcome remains uncertain.

Stern said Palmer Lake made national headlines this year during what he described as a contentious and noisy period that tested leadership. What matters most, he said, is what comes next. He emphasized that the board’s primary responsibility is fiduciary and that it must take seriously the opportunity to strengthen the town’s future and create long‑term stability.

He said residents care deeply about Palmer Lake, and the challenge now is channeling that care into productive outcomes. Surrounded by natural beauty and defined by a distinct character and scale lost in many other communities, Palmer Lake draws strong support for authentic events such as the Outdoor Classic hockey tournament and the Festival on the Fourth, which demonstrate community pride and support local businesses.

Stern said there are no easy answers, but the town is taking a hard look at how it can thrive amid easing inflation, improving supply chains, and renewed attention on rural America. Solutions will take time, he said, but Palmer Lake remains committed to responsible, measured growth rooted in community values. The town is open to business and will evaluate every opportunity carefully, he said, adding that Palmer Lake’s future is worth building.

Conclusion

Chamber President and CEO Terri Hayes ended the meeting thanking the sponsors, presenters, and attendees, as well as the TLCOC staff who put on the events, manages memberships, and coordinates communications. She invited attendees to come to the Chamber’s Annual Awards Dinner on April 2.

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Find more information about the Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce at www.trilakeschamber.com.

Jackie Burhans can be reached at jackieburhans@ocn.me.

Other Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce articles

El Paso Board of County Commissioners/Land Use Committee, Jan.8, 13, and 20 – Board, committee act on variety of projects

Highlights

  • The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners began the year with several decisions, including final plats for JJ Ranch and Gleneagle View, both approved for development.
  • Hidden Creek Estates was approved for rezoning a 3.4-acre parcel from RR 5 to RR 2.5, despite neighbor concerns about safety with limited access.
  • On the BOCC consent calendar, resolutions approved temporary and permanent easements for the Highway 105 widening project, Lake Woodmoor to Martingale Road, and an MOU between PPROEM and the Town of Monument to support emergency management and training.
  • An annexation impact report review for The Crossing at Monument Creek in Palmer Lake was noted, though the BOCC does not approve or deny annexation reports.
  • Additionally, the BOCC approved an MOU for a utility easement related to the Highway 105B widening project, enabling property acquisition for construction, drainage, and access needs.

By Marlene Brown

The El Paso Board of County Commissioners’ Land Use Committee (BOCCLUC) started the new year on Jan. 8 with several decisions.

  • Decision 26-1: The JJ Ranch Final Plat—a three-lot subdivision approved by the county Planning Commission on Dec. 18, 2025, and sent to the BOCCLUC for final approval, was approved.
  • Decision 26-2: Gleneagle View Final Plat—to plat three tracts into three commercial lots located off Struthers Road and Gleneagle Gate View was approved.
  • Decisions 26-5 and 26-6: Hidden Creek Estates—Approved the rezoning of a 3.4-acre parcel about 1.5 miles west of Hay Creek and Baptist Roads, from RR 5 to RR2.5. Neighbors spoke in opposition, citing that adding residents to the area with only one way in and out was a safety hazard.

Board of County Commissioners

Decisions 26-19 through 26-26: On the consent calendar, resolutions were passed Jan. 13 to approve and accept Temporary and Permanent Easements for the Highway 105 Widening—Lake Woodmoor to Martingale Road project.

The BOCC approved a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the Pikes Peak Regional Office of Emergency Management (PPROEM) and the Town of Monument (TOM). Duties of the PPROEM include specified products and services to assist the TOM emergency manager, provide hands-on support in training, and in the event of a local, state, or national emergency response.

On Jan. 20, the BOCC reviewed an annexation report regarding The Crossing at Monument Creek, Town of Palmer Lake. The BOCC does not approve or deny annexation impact reports. The report provided by Palmer Lake notifies the county of the potential annexation request. The property is south and west of Highway 105 between Red Rock Ranch Drive and Rockbrook Road.

The BOCC approved an MOU for a utility easement for the Highway 105 widening known as the Highway 105B Project. The Department of Public Works is constructing a Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority project and identified the need to enter into an MOU between Oliver and Aimee Cardenas for the acquisition of property to be utilized for construction, drainage, slope, maintenance, repair, replacement, and operation of ingress and egress of the project.

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The Board of County Commissioners usually meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. at 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 100, Colorado Springs. The Land Use Committee meets on the second and fourth Thursdays as needed. Call 719-520-7276 for more information. Go to bocc.elpasoco.com or https://www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso for meeting schedules and agendas.

Marlene Brown may be reached at marlenebrown@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Board of County Commissioners articles

El Paso County Planning Commission, Board of County Commissioners – Planning Commission recommends JJ Ranch, Gleneagle View, Hidden Creek for approval

Highlights

  • The article covers recent activity in El Paso County planning and development meetings, including several subdivision final plats and rezoning requests.
  • First, the JJ Ranch subdivision at 10155 Hardy Road sought Final Plat approval, with the Planning Commission recommending approval ahead of a public hearing at the Board of County Commissioners meeting.
  • Next, the Gleneagle View Final Plat would combine three tracts into one commercial lot near Northgate and Struthers Roads, with staff reporting all documents filed and the Planning Commission recommending approval for a BOCC hearing.
  • The Hidden Creek Rezone, formerly 3405 Hay Creek Rezone, requests a switch from RR-5 to RR-2.5, and the commission also supports approving Final Plat Filing 2 for six residential lots with a waiver to allow a private road in place of a public road, with the BOCC hearing set for January 8.
  • Additionally, the Skye Vista subdivision near Steppler Road received Final Plat approval after a public hearing, featuring 13 lots with well, septic, and public roads, and the Planning Commission's staff recommendation aligned with the BOCC's subsequent approval on December 15.
  • Finally, the Board of Adjustments addressed a variance request for an accessory structure at 4675 Red Forest Rd, and the Board of Commissioners approved consent agenda items involving memoranda of agreement and temporary construction easements related to Highway 105B, with notes about EDARP and contact information for local planning offices.
  • Conclusion: The county is moving forward with several subdivision developments, rezonings, and related easements, with multiple approvals anticipated or already granted and ongoing opportunities for public input.

By Marlene Brown

El Paso County Planning Commission, Dec. 11

Consulting Services, represented by Nina Ruiz, was seeking Final Plat approval for the JJ Ranch three-lot subdivision located at 10155 Hardy Road near Black Forest. The Planning Commission (PC) recommended that the application be approved, and a public hearing was held Dec. 18 at the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) regular meeting.

Gleneagle View Final Plat, owned by TKA Properties LLP of Omaha, Neb., requested that three tracts be combined into one lot. Located on the corner of Northgate and Struthers Roads next to the 7-Eleven Lot, it is zoned commercial. Staff reported that all documents had been filed for the Final Plat. The PC recommended that the application be approved for a public hearing at the Dec. 18 BOCC regular meeting.

Hidden Creek Rezone, previously known as 3405 Hay Creek Rezone, requested a rezone from RR-5 to RR-2.5. The PC signed the resolution to recommend approval at the Jan. 8 BOCC meeting. The applicant requested approval of the Final Plat to create six residential lots in Hay Creek Filing 2. The PC stated that the petition of 3405 Hay Creek LLC had met all criteria for submitting the request for Final Plat Filing 2 Hidden Creek Estates and recommends that the BOCC approve the filing with the waiver to allow a private road to be constructed in lieu of a public road. BOCC will hold a hearing at the Jan. 8 meeting.

Board of County Commissioners approves Skye Vista subdivision, Dec. 11

Applicant Matrix Design Group Inc., represented by Luke Bonner, requested Final Plat approval of Skye Vista subdivision at 16850 Steppler Road, north of Hodgen Road and adjacent to Settlers Ranch Road. Included are 13 lots with well, septic, and public roads. Staff for the PC reported that all filing criteria and documents had been met and filed and recommended approval from the BOCC at the Dec. 11 regular meeting. After a public hearing with the BOCC, the project was approved Dec. 15.

County Board of Adjustments, Dec. 11

Applicant owner David P. Weltz requested dimensional variance at 4675 Red Forest Rd. The applicant requested that the Board of Adjustments allow an accessory structure closer to the front setback than the principal structure. Staff reported that all project data requests and criteria had been met and approved at the Dec. 11 public hearing. The project closed Dec. 15.

Board of County Commissioners, Dec. 9

On the consent agenda, items were approved regarding resolutions on a Memorandum Agreement and Temporary Construction Easements associated with Highway 105B (Lake Woodmoor Drive and Martingale Road). The agreement is between the Public Works Department and the owners of subsequent property and utility easements at 145 Tall Pine Lane in the Woodmoor subdivision.

Resolutions were approved regarding the Memorandum Agreement and Temporary Easements associated with Highway 105B and the replacement and planting of three ponderosa pine trees. The agreement is between the Public Works Department and the owners at 18045 Martingale Road in the Arrowwood Subdivision.

Note: The files and documents for these and other projects for unincorporated El Paso County can be found at the Electronic Development Application Review Program (EDARP) epcdevplanreview.com.

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The Planning Commission usually meets on the first and third Thursday of the month at 9 a.m. at the Regional Development Center, 2880 International Circle, Suite 110, Colorado Springs. Call 719-327-2880 for more information.

The Board of County Commissioners meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. at 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 100, Colorado Springs. BOCC Land Use meets on the second and fourth Thursday, and the Board of Adjustment meets directly after the BOCC. Call 719-520-7276 for more information.

Marlene Brown can be contacted at marlenebrown@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County articles

Nov. 4 Election

Boldface = Elected

El Paso County Commissioner, Dist. 5

  • Lauren Nelson 70.38%
  • Vickie Tonkins 29.62%

Academy District 20

  • Holly Tripp 18.19%
  • Renee Malloy Ludlam 14.46%
  • Brandon Clark 15.12%
  • Susan Payne 17.52%
  • Eddie Waldrep 17.33%
  • Jennafer Stites 13.41%
  • Cynthia Halverson 3.96%

Lewis-Palmer District 38 – Dist. 1

  • Tim Bennet 100%

Lewis-Palmer District 38 Dist. 3

  • Ginger Schaaf 61.14%
  • Jackie Burhans 38.86%

El Paso Board of County Commissioners – Board approves agreement on Highway 105 widening

By Marlene Brown

At the Nov. 4 meeting of the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), the board approved a Memorandum of Agreement and Acceptance of Temporary Construction Easement associated with the Highway 105 widening from Lake Woodmoor Drive to Martingale Road. The BOCC said it has the authority to purchase and hold real and personal property from property owned by Douglas A. Williams and Diane E. Williams to be used by the county for road construction, utility construction, drainage, slope maintenance, repair, and ingress and egress on the project. The board determined that approval would best serve the interests of the public. The agreement authorizes payment from the Pikes Peak Rural Transportation Authority (PPTRA) funds of $670.

During the Nov. 13 meeting, the board approved a request for a subdivision exemption for a Town of Monument tank site by Interstate 25 Properties LTD, Cebleco Holdco Exchange LLC, and the Town of Monument.

The application encompasses 5.87 acres to be divided into one lot and four tracts, as well as the dedication of 7,290 square feet of public road right-of-way. The property is zoned C-1 (commercial) and is located immediately southeast of the intersection of Beacon Lite Road and Bricker Road.

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BOCC meetings are normally held on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. at the Centennial Hall Auditorium, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs. Meetings are open to the public and can be viewed via live stream at https://clerkandrecorder.elpasoco.com/clerk-to-the-board/meeting-live-stream/. For more information regarding the BOCC, see https://bocc.elpasoco.com

Marlene Brown can be contacted at marlenebrown@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Board of County Commissioners articles

El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, Oct. 7 – Board approves contract for Fox Run Gazebo

By Marlene Brown

At the Oct. 7 meeting of the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), the board approved, with a vote of 5-0, for the award of a contract with Timberline Building Systems LLC for the Fox Run Regional Park Gazebo and Renovation Project.

The project consists of the two existing ponds that will be dredged and lined with rubber, and the gazebo will be taken down and rebuilt, near where it exists now, and will be near the improved amphitheater. The new design will ensure that the structures will be Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible. The contract is for $1.4 million, and construction will begin as soon as possible.

Another agenda item that was approved pertaining to Northern El Paso County was the contract award to Amrize WestCentral Inc. for the construction of the North Gate Boulevard/Struthers Road Drainage and Pond Project with the Department of Public Works Engineering Division. This project has been approved by federal, state, and local governments.

On the federal side, the Air Force Academy and I-25 are impacted; the Colorado Department of Transportation and the county Public Works Department are included. The project will cost over $3.4 million.

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BOCC meetings are normally held on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. at the Centennial Hall Auditorium, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs. Meetings are open to the public and can be viewed via live stream at https://clerkandrecorder.elpasoco.com/clerk-to-the-board/meeting-live-stream/. For more information regarding the BOCC, see https://bocc.elpasoco.com.

Marlene Brown can be reached at marlenebrown@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Board of County Commissioners articles

El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, Sept. 2, 9, and 23 – County approves park services

By Marlene Brown

The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) met on Sept. 2 on the Procurements and Contracts Consent Calendar. The board voted on approval of Matrix Design Group to provide construction management services for the Fox Run Regional Park Pond and Gazebo Renovation project, for the Parks Department. The project area is about 4 acres in the northern section of the park. The area includes parking areas, trails, a gazebo, an amphitheater, two ponds, and a small building containing two restrooms and a meeting room, currently called the Warming Hut.

The project will include reconstruction of the existing gazebo and improvements to the amphitheater to ensure access according to the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). The two ponds will be dredged and fitted with a synthetic pond liner. The contract for Matrix is not to exceed $37,000. The project’s total is $244,175. Commissioner Holly Williams made a motion to approve Matrix’s contract, and it was approved 5-0.

At the meeting on Sept. 9, a proclamation was approved recognizing Sept. 11 as Patriot Day and a National Day of Service and Remembrance 2025. Also, a proclamation was approved recognizing Sept. 17 as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day 2025. The board encourages residents of El Paso County to show their appreciation for the Constitution by studying and educating the younger generation on the importance of the system of government the Constitution helped to create. Both proclamations were approved 5-0.

On Sept. 23, the board considered two resolutions. One was a proposed Intergovernmental Agreement regarding compliance and stewardship of certain parcels of the New Santa Fe Regional Trail. El Paso County owns and maintains the New Santa Fe Trail between Baptist Road and the Town of Monument. An adjacent landowner requested two crossings of the trail to service the Santa Fe Park development, two vehicle crossings, and two pedestrian crossings. Approval to modify the regional trail must come from the National Park Service, El Paso County, and the Town of Monument, so an Intergovernmental Agreement regarding compliance and stewardship of certain parcels was needed.

The other was the approval of a Special Warranty Deed for the portion of the trail mentioned in the first resolution. The county owns the land and deeds to the Town of Monument for maintenance and compliance regarding development.

Both resolutions were approved 4-0-1. Holly Williams was absent.

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BOCC meetings are normally held on Tuesdays at 9 a.m. at the Centennial Hall Auditorium, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs. Meetings are open to the public and can be viewed via Live Stream at https://clerkandrecorder.elpasoco.com/clerk-to-the-board/meeting-live-stream/

Marlene Brown can be contacted at marlenebrown@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Board of County Commissioners articles

Fox Run Nature Center on hold

By Marlene Brown

The El Paso County Parks Department announced on Sept. 2 that the Fox Run Nature Center project has been put on hold. A strategic decision was made due to the current economic environment, said Todd Matrs, executive director. The project began in 2013 when it was identified in the El Paso County Master Plan as a need in the community, and again in the 2021 Master Plan. “While El Paso County remains in a strong financial position, we recognize the same is not true for many in our community,” said Matrs.

The economic changes of the past year—rapidly rising material costs, supply chain issues, and the enormous financial needs of the non-profit community competing for limited grants and funds—led the Parks Department to the decision, Matrs said.

Marlene Brown can be reached at marlenebrown@ocn.me.

Other Perspective on Our Community articles

El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, Aug. 5 – Liquor license approved

By Marlene Brown

At the regular meeting Aug. 5 of the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC), a hearing was held on the application dated June 9 by Mountain View Café & Catering for a hotel and restaurant liquor license for their location at 111424 Black Forest Road. After testimony from staff of Mountain View Café and surveys received by local residents and neighbors that all had favorable comments, it was determined that the applicants had satisfactorily completed all the requirements of the Colorado Liquor Code.

The board forwarded approval to the state Department of Revenue, Liquor Enforcement Division, the licensing authority.

The board approved a 107-acre Final Plat for creating 10 single-family lots one-third mile east of the Intersection of East Thunder Road and Gamblers Place. The property is located in RR-5 (Residential Rural) zoning.

Also approved was a request by Flying Horse Land Co. LLC for a sketch plan for 1,821.3 acres adjacent to Shriever Air Force Base with plans for over 4,900 homes. It is located at 16661 Highway 94, Colorado Springs. It was reported last month that the Planning Commission denied the motion for approval with a vote of 3-5. This time, the BOCC approved the motion 4-1.

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The BOCC normally meets at the Centennial Hall Auditorium, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs, every Tuesday at 9 a.m., and the BOCC land use meetings are every second and fourth Tuesday at 9 am. For more information, go to bocc.elpasoco.com.

Marlene Brown can be reached at marlenebrown@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Board of County Commissioners articles

El Paso County Planning Commission, Aug. 7 – Variance for rental unit rejected

By Marlene Brown

The El Paso County Planning Commission (EPCPC) held its regular bi-monthly meeting on Aug. 7. All voting members of EPC and staff were present. The agenda was requested by Commissioner Eric Moraes to be amended for the consent items to be heard as called-up agenda items.

Item number VA2523—Variance of Use, Spaatz Road—was moved from the consent items to the called-up agenda for hearing. This was a request by Jason and Emily Schott for approval of Variance of Use on 5.15 acres to allow an additional dwelling unit in the RR-5 Residential Rural district. The property is about 1.5 miles northwest of the intersection of I-25 and Baptist Road. The Schotts were there for an additional second dwelling variance for a garage that was converted to a rental with living quarters. The garage was permitted in 2022 as unheated and unoccupied and later converted to living quarters without updating the permit.

Jason Schott acknowledged making a mistake and was looking to correct the issue. Heat was installed in 2023 as the conversion to rental property was completed.

Neighbors of the property testified they were concerned about the increased traffic and use of a long-term rental property that would increase their taxes on the surrounding properties. Though Commissioners Tim Trowbridge and Becky Fuller said the property was always intended to be a rental, and an attempt to circumvent the Land Development Code and Master Plan would only set a precedent for other owners to convert properties without proper approval, the request for hardship was not inherent, and they would vote against the request. A motion for disapproval of the consent item passed 5-2. The item will be forwarded to the Board of County Commissioners for its consideration.

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The EPCPC normally meets on the first and third Monday of the month at 2880 International Circle, Suite 110, in Colorado Springs at 9 a.m. You can view hearings remotely at https://planningdevelopment.elpasoco.com/planning-community-development/2025-hearings-schedule/.

Marlene Brown can be contacted at marlenebrown@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Planning Commission articles

El Paso County Planning Commission, June 19 – Commission recommends disapproval of Flying Horse East sketch plan

By Marlene Brown

At the June 19 meeting of the El Paso County Planning Commission (EPCPC), Ryan Houser, principal planner, Planning and Community Development, presented a request for approval of the sketch plan from applicant HRGreen representing Flying Horse Land Co. LLC for Flying Horse East, Phase 1. The property is located at Highway 94 and Enoch Road, about 7½ miles east of Falcon and adjacent to Schriever Space Force Base.

Flying Horse East is in the initial planning stage and will have future phases and filings, as the filings get built out, if approved. The Phase 1 plan consists of 1,821.3 acres, to include 818 acres of about 4,500 residential units, 31.2 acres for commercial use, 89.9 acres for institutional use, including schools, police and fire department utilities administration, 521.1 acres of designated land for mixed-use, 47.7 acres of right-of-way, 30.6 acres of open space, 96.6 acres of dedicated stormwater detention and 186.1 acres set aside for preservation of natural floodway that flows through the property.

Upon completion, Flying Horse East is projected to occupy 5,500 acres with hotels, restaurants, a resort with golf course, 30,000 residential units, and over 100,000 residents. The timeline would be at least five to 10 years for approval and beginning construction. See www.flyinghorseeast.com.

A resident of the area spoke at the hearing regarding traffic concerns. Just in the last five years, they said, the traffic on Highway 94 has become bumper to bumper going to and from work at Schiever Space Force Base and more complete traffic studies are sought. The Colorado Department of Transportation has had Highway 94 on its list of future projects but has not begun improvements.

Commissioners expressed concern about the mixed-use units being so close to the base, needing a larger land buffer, according to federal mandates. The EPCPC voted 3-5 against the sketch plan being approved at this time and requested that changes be made to follow federal and state mandates and the county Master Plan. See the Electronic Development Application Review Program (EDARP) at https://epcdevplanreview.com for details and supporting documents for project SKP242 Flying Horse East.

The EPCPC staff has been working on and is scheduled to present updates to the Master Plan on July 17.

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The EPCPC normally meets the first Thursday and if required the third Thursday of each month at the Regional Development Center, 2880 International Circle, Colorado Springs. For more information, call 719-520-6300 or to watch the meetings live or recorded go to https://cloud.castus.tv/vod/elpasoco/?page=HOME. Due to vacation schedules, the calendar for EPCPC shows only one meeting in July, on the July 17, and one in August, on August 7.

Marlene Brown can be reached at marlenebrown@ocn.me

Other El Paso County Planning Commission articles

El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, April 10 – Two local projects approved by the county

By Marlene Brown

At the April 3 El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) land use meeting, two of the consent calendar items pertained to the local area:

The first was a Ben Lomand Mountain Village rezoning to Residential Rural (RR 2.5 acres). It was recommended for approval at the Planning Commission on March 20. The map amendment rezones 341.10 acres from RR-5 to RR-2.5. The property is in Commissioner District 3, just west of Palmer Divide Road and Indi Drive and at Palmer Divide Road and Spruce Mountain Road. The project was approved 5-0.

The second was a request from New Breed Ranch Inc. for approval of a Final Plat to create seven single-family residential lots. The 34.7-acre portion of 279.07 acres is zoned Planned Unit Development (PUD). It is just east of Shoup Road and Highway 83, north of the city limits of Colorado Springs. The item was recommended by the PC for approval March 20. The project was approved 5-0.

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The BOCC usually meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite150, Colorado Springs. Agendas and meetings can be viewed at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. BOCC land use meetings are normally held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 9 a.m. in Centennial Hall. For more information regarding the BOCC, call 719-520-7276 or go to bocc.elpasoco.com

Marlene Brown can be reached at marlenebrown@ocn.me.

Other El Paso Board of County Commissioners articles

El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, March 13 and 18 – Misfits Crew Estates Final Plat approved

By Marlene Brown

At the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) land use meeting on March 13, Mark McDonald and Amanda Enloe requested that the Misfits Crew Estates Final Plat be approved to create three single-family residential lots. The 35.72-acre property is zoned RR-5 on the north side of Hodgen Road, 0.32 miles west of Thompson Road. Lot 1 would be about 25.7 acres and Lots 2 and 3 would be about 5 acres each available for single-family residential construction.

The item was heard on the consent agenda at the Feb. 20 Planning Commission meeting for Misfits Crew Estates Final Plat requesting approval with a vote of 9-0 and forwarded to the BOCC. The Final Plat was approved 4-0 -1 (Commissioner Bill Wysong was absent).

At the meeting of the BOCC on March 18, it executed the 2025 Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Black Forest Slash and Mulch Committee (SAMCOM), Colorado Non-Profit Corp., for the operation of the Black Forest Slash and Mulch program. The program promotes wildfire mitigation and good forest health and educates residents in reducing hazardous fuels on private property.

The Slash and Mulch program is primarily run by volunteers. The BOCC continues to enter into the MOU with SAMCOM for overall management and operation of the program. Slash is defined as tree debris, branches, leaves, and needles. Slash is ground into mulch and given to citizens. For more information about location, hours of operation, and volunteer opportunities for the Slash and Mulch program, go to bfslash.org.

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The BOCC usually meets every Tuesday at 9 a.m. at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colorado Springs. Agendas and meetings can be viewed at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. BOCC land use meetings are normally held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1 p.m. in Centennial Hall. For more information regarding the BOCC, call 719-520-7276 or go to bocc.elpasoco.com.

Marlene Brown can be reached at marlenebrown@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Board of County Commissioner articles

El Paso County Planning Commission, March 6 and 20 – Three projects recommended to BOCC

By Marlene Brown

At the March 6 meeting of the El Paso County Planning Commission, the commissioners approved 9-0 the Final Plat of the Burkheimer Subdivision at the intersection of Black Forest Road and Vessey Road. John Burkheimer requested that the 13.68-acre property (zoned RR-5) be split into two lots, one being 8.4 acres and the other 5.1 acres. The project was recommended to the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC).

During the March 20 meeting, consent calendar item P252 map amendment (rezoning from RR-5 to RR 2.5 acres) Ben Lomand Mountain Village would include about 74 single-residence lots with a minimum size of 2.5 acres serviced by individual wells and septic systems. It was recommended to the BOCC.

Item SF247 Final Plat, New Breed Ranch Filing No. 3, a 34.7-acre zoned Planned Unit Development (PUD) would create seven single-family residential lots on portions of 279.07-acre property near Shoup Road and Highway 83. The item passed 8-0 and was forwarded to the BOCC.

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The EPCPC normally meets on the first Thursday and if required the third Thursday of each month at the Regional Development Center, 2880 International Circle, Colorado Springs. For more information, call 719-520-6300 or to watch the meetings live or recorded go to https://cloud.castus.tv/vod/elpasoco/?page=HOME.

Marlene Brown can be reached at marlenebrown@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Planning Commission articles

El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, Feb. 11 – $4 million in federal funds approved for North Gate Blvd./Struthers Road stormwater project

By Helen Walklett

At its Feb. 11 meeting, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners approved a resolution to recognize federal revenue and appropriate $4 million to the Road and Bridge 2025 budget for the North Gate Boulevard/Struthers Road Drainage and Permanent Water Quality Pond Project. This will provide stormwater improvements within the multi-jurisdictional area adjacent to North Gate Boulevard, Struthers Road, and I-25.

For many years, stormwater infrastructure in this area has been inadequate and has impacted the county, City of Colorado Springs, Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT), and the U.S. Air Force Academy. The proposed improvements will include a system that will convey stormwater through a concrete pipe network to a detention/water quality pond in the I-25 median south of North Gate Boulevard.

The project is covered by an intergovernmental agreement between the county and CDOT. The total cost of the project is $4.83 million ($4 million federal and $831,501 local match). There is currently no start date.

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The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) usually meets every Tuesday at 9 am at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Agendas and meetings can be viewed at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Information is available at 719-520-643. BOCC land use meetings are normally held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1 pm in Centennial Hall.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Board of Commissioners articles

El Paso County Planning Commission, Feb. 20 – Approval recommended for three lots at Black Forest property

By Helen Walklett

In February, the El Paso Planning Commission heard a request to create three single-family residential lots on a Black Forest property to be known as Misfits Crew Estates.

Misfits Crew Estates

At their Feb. 20 meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve a final plat request to create a minor subdivision of three single-family residential lots on a 35.72-acre Mountain Shadow View property. It is located on the north side of Hodgen Road and to the west of Thompson Road and is zoned RR-5 (rural residential).

The property has an existing home and a barn on its northeastern portion. Long View Estates subdivision with existing 5-acre properties is located to the west. Thirty-five-plus-acre unplatted parcels with existing residences are located to the north and east. The site is accessed by Mountain Shadow View, a private gravel road, which connects to the unpaved Thompson Road.

The proposed Lot 1 would be about 25.7 acres and would contain the existing residence and barn. Lots 2 and 3 would be about 5 acres each and would be made available for single-family residential construction.

The application was heard as a consent item, meaning there was no discussion. It is now due to be heard at the El Paso Board of County Commissioners land use meeting on March 13.

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The El Paso County Planning Commission normally meets the first and (as required) the third Thursday of each month at the Regional Development Center, 2880 International Circle, Colo. Springs. Meetings are live-streamed on the El Paso County News and Information Channel at www.elpasoco.com/news-information-channel. Information is available at 719-520-6300 and https://planningdevelopment.elpasoco.com/planning-community-development/2025-hearings-schedule/.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Planning Commission articles

El Paso Board of County Commissioners, Jan. 14 – Three commissioners sworn into office; chair and vice chair appointed

By Helen Walklett

At their first meeting of the year on Jan. 14, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) voted to appoint its chair and vice chair for 2025. Three commissioners also took the oath of office, two for the first time.

Chair and vice chair appointed

The commissioners voted unanimously to reappoint Carrie Geitner as chair. Commissioner Holly Williams was appointed as vice chair. Geitner has held the chair since October 2024 when Commissioner Cami Bremer stepped down to transition into her role as CEO of Pikes Peak United Way. She remains a commissioner.

Commissioners sworn in

The Jan. 14 meeting was halted part way through its agenda to allow for the swearing in ceremony for new and returning commissioners. Geitner, representing District 2, has been re-elected to another four-year term in office. Newly elected Commissioners Cory Applegate and Bill Wysong also took the oath of office. Wysong replaces former Commissioner Stan VanderWerf, and his district includes the towns of Palmer Lake and Monument.

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The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) usually meets every Tuesday at 9 am at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Agendas and meetings can be viewed at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Information is available at 719-520-643. BOCC land use meetings are normally held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1 pm in Centennial Hall.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me

Other El Paso Board of County Commissioners articles

El Paso County Planning Commission, Dec. 5 – Urban Landing off Struthers Road recommended for approval

By Helen Walklett

During December, the El Paso County Planning Commissioners heard requests for the proposed Urban Landing Development off Struthers Road.

Urban Landing development

At their Dec. 5 meeting, the commissioners heard combined requests for a 49 single-family lot development on 6.58 acres at the southeast corner of the intersection of Struthers Road and Spanish Bit Drive, south of the Big R store. The developer, Elite Properties of America Inc., is requesting a rezone from R-4 (planned development), a now obsolete zoning category, to PUD (planned unit development) and approval of a preliminary plan.

Ryan Howser, principal planner, Planning and Community Development Department, said that density would be roughly the same under the proposed zoning at 7.5 dwelling units per acre as under the current zoning. He continued, “The previous R-4 zoning also contemplated multi-family and single-family attached for this property. The current proposal contemplates a single-family detached product with no multi-family, no multi-story apartments.”

Each unit would have a two-car garage or two parking spaces on the lot and there would be 22 guest parking spaces. The building footprints would not exceed 800 square feet, excluding the garage and would not be more than 30 feet high. A homeowners association would maintain1.82 acres of usable open space.

As four citizens were present to comment, the application was moved from the consent calendar and given a full hearing. They had questions and concerns about stormwater drainage, traffic in relation to both the gravel roads and access to Struthers Road, light pollution, and compatibility with the surrounding area. Adjacent property owner Doug Schanel, while not opposed to the development itself, said stormwater runoff was already an issue and described the challenges of accessing Struthers Road from Spanish Bit Drive where there are no turn or acceleration lanes.

Steve Sery, a former chair of the Planning Commission and a resident of Chapparal Hills, the subdivision to the east, said the school buses take the unpaved Chapparal Hills route to the elementary school, with Struthers and Baptist Roads being a longer route. He imagined residents of the new development would likely do the same. He called for acceleration lanes from Spanish Bit Drive turning left and right onto Struthers Road to be installed with this subdivision and not wait on further development adding more traffic.

Paul Krause, whose Spanish Bit Drive property is right next to the proposed development, said, “I do 100% oppose the size of this development that’s going to be in there. Something’s going to go in there sooner or later, I get that. The writing’s on the wall and my objective is to mitigate the size of what it is to help mitigate some of the traffic that comes through.”

Chaparral Hills resident Kevin Beechwood described the proposal as a “cash grab by the developers.” “Now you want to take what is a normal-sized lot for Chapparal Hills which is right at the border and you want to put 50 units there. That’s basically the size of this whole neighborhood and that’s in my mind and my neighbors’ minds absolutely ridiculous and unthought of.” He added, “Yes, something is going to be developed but nonetheless putting 50 units and essentially building a trailer park at the end of the road is nothing that is going to be good.”

Chair Tom Bailey commented, “So we’ve given you an opportunity to express a lot of things and I’ll just interject here that the vast majority of those have nothing to do with the approval criteria here and are mostly things that are not the responsibility of the property owner.” He continued, “Our job is to let property owners apply and ask to do things with the property that they own, and this property owner has a plan and would like to do something with it.”

Brooks Swenson with N.E.S. Inc. and representing the applicant, described the proposal as providing “a nice transition to the existing and proposed commercial zone to the north.” He said, “With this just being 49 lots and most of these are one and maybe two bedrooms, it might not be a big driver of a lot of additional students to the school.” Responding to comments traffic would cut through the existing neighborhood, he said he thought it would be much more convenient to use Struthers Road.

Swenson described the Chaparral Hills neighborhood as an anomaly compared to everything else around it which is PUD or R-4, the equivalent of PUD, and compatible with the proposed development.

Andrea Barlow with N.E.S. and representing the applicant, explained that there are a number of proposed improvements to the Struthers Road and Spanish Bit Drive junction. Some are the responsibility of the Urban Landing developer; some are combined improvements with the Cathedral Rock Commons commercial development. She said the two developers are in discussion about the timings of these improvements which would include construction of a northbound right-turn lane on Struthers Road at Spanish Bit Drive, the lengthening of the southbound left-turn lane on Struthers, and construction of left- and right-turn lanes on Spanish Bit Drive at Struthers.

The applicant would also be responsible for paving Spanish Bit Drive to the eastern boundary of their property. Barlow said an acceleration lane on Struthers Drive had not been identified as a required improvement given the volume of traffic.

Commissioner Tim Trowbridge commented, “We need the housing. This does fit.”

The vote to recommend approval was unanimous. The application was then heard at the El Paso Board of County Commissioners’ Dec. 17 meeting. See BOCC article in this issue.

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The El Paso County Planning Commission normally meets the first and (as required) the third Thursday of each month at the Regional Development Center, 2880 International Circle, Colo. Springs. Meetings are live-streamed on the El Paso County News and Information Channel at www.elpasoco.com/news-information-channel. Information is available at 719-520-6300 and https://planningdevelopment.elpasoco.com/planning-community-development/2025-hearings-schedule/.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Planning Commission articles

El Paso Board of County Commissioners, Dec. 10, 12, and 17 – Two Tri-Lakes developments approved

By Helen Walklett

During December, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) heard requests relating to the proposed Monument Ridge East development south of County Line Road and directly east of I-25 and the Urban Landing development off Struthers Road. They also approved a request in Black Forest that will create six single-family lots.

Monument Ridge East approved

At the Dec.12 BOCC land use meeting, the commissioners voted to approve joint requests for two rezones and a preliminary plan for the proposed Monument Ridge East development. The property is just under 60 acres and is directly southeast of the intersection of Interstate 25 and County Line Road, southwest of the intersection of County Line Road and Doewood Drive, and a half-mile north of the intersection of Monument Hill Road and Misty Acres Boulevard.

It is currently zoned a mixture of PUD (planned unit development), RS-20000 (residential suburban) and various commercial zonings. Before the applications to the county, the property was twice part of unsuccessful attempts to annex it and land west of I-25 into the Town of Monument. In total, the development will have 37 single-family detached and 303 attached residential units.

The requests were heard at the Nov. 21 El Paso County Planning Commission meeting where the discussion included compatibility with the neighborhood, increased traffic, and density. The commissioners voted unanimously to recommend for approval the rezone to RS-6000 (residential suburban). However, the vote to recommend approval of the higher density RM-12 (residential, multi-dwelling) was tied 4-4, meaning that request came to the BOCC with no recommendation. On the preliminary plan, the vote to recommend approval was 5-3 with three commissioners feeling unable to vote in favor when they disagreed with the RM-12 zoning request. See https://wp.ocn.me/v24n12epcpc.

The RS-6000 rezoned land is the almost-19 acres to the east of the planned extension of Misty Acres Boulevard to County Line Road. The applicant plans to create 37 single-family lots there with a commitment to 15,000-square-foot lots against the existing 20,000-square-foot lots on the property’s eastern boundary.

The higher-density RM-12 zoning concerns the 40.51-acre portion west of the extension which is bordered on the west by I-25. A condition added to the approval commits the applicant to develop only single-family detached and single-family attached in this area to ensure that no multi-family rental units are built.

Kylie Bagley, principal planner, Planning and Community Development Department, said 98 adjacent property owners were notified and county received 134 emails stating opposition to the applications.

Craig Dossey, with Vertex Consulting Services LLC and representing the applicant, said what could be built under the current zoning would have a far greater impact than what was being proposed under the rezoning. He said, “What we are really looking at in this entire development, whether you’re talking about RM-12 or RS-6000, is attached, single-family, detached single-family and two family as well as public park and open space. We are not proposing multi-family.”

During the public comment section of the hearing, six neighbors spoke in support, preferring to see residential development over commercial.

Harold Larson, a Doewood Drive resident, said he had expected to see a commercial development and a residential-commercial mixture developed like every other exit on I-25. He described the current proposals as “a win for me personally and for a lot of members in my HOA.” Another Doewood Drive resident said he feared a lack of a decision at the meeting would leave the property zoned commercial.

Twelve people spoke in opposition raising concerns about the RM-12 zoning, traffic (particularly in relation to the re-routing of Monument Hill Road through the development and to schools) and the integrity of the applicant.

Monument Mayor Mitch LaKind said the density was too high and voiced concerns about the town’s ability to adequately police the development. He stated it would have a significant financial impact on the town and other municipalities in the area and that Monument’s Police Department was already short staffed. Monument Town Councilmember Kenneth Kimple spoke by phone to oppose the RM-12 zoning due to incompatibility. He also raised concerns about policing resources and traffic, particularly in relation to the nearby schools.

A Monument resident said, “Please do not allow this so-called development to go forward without actual plans and especially with as little insight as to what will actually be built.” A neighbor said, “I think part of the reason there’s been a lot of resistance is because there’s just been an erosion of trust. It seems that every time you come to one of these meetings, the plan we’re looking [at is] different.” He continued, “Every time we see Mr. Dossey speak, it’s all the terrible things that could show up there, that we’re saving you from this. The same developer who’s putting a Buc-ee’s across the street, one of the largest consumer gas stations in the nation! They’re not really saving us from anything.”

Dossey said the Town of Monument has a comprehensive plan that sets out its intention for development of the property. He explained the plan designated it as “mixed use,” which means commercial and typically higher-density residential and sometimes attached single-family homes. He added that he felt the applicant had been unfairly characterized and that he had been very tolerant and very patient, particularly with the Town of Monument.

As well as the condition setting out the type of housing that can be built in the RM-12 zoned area, the commissioners added a condition to the preliminary plan approval that limits the number of units that can be built to 340-37 single-family detached lots and 303 attached residential units. This is in line with the numbers for which there is a finding of water sufficiency in the water supply review.

All three requests were approved by a vote of 4-0, with Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez Jr. excused. With the preliminary plan approved, final plats may be approved administratively.

Urban Landing development approved

The Urban Landing development of 49 single-family homes on 6.58 acres at the southeast corner of the intersection of Struthers Road and Spanish Bit Drive, south of the Big R store, came to the BOCC Dec. 17 meeting from the Planning Commission with a recommendation for approval. The developer, Elite Properties of America Inc., is requesting a rezone from R-4 (planned development), a now obsolete zoning category, to PUD (planned unit development) and approval of a preliminary plan. See Planning Commission article on page < 17 >.

The applications were scheduled to be heard as consent items, meaning there would be no discussion, but two neighbors were present to voice opposition. Neighbor Sean Tourangeau raised a number of concerns, including light pollution, increased traffic, density, noise pollution, increased crime, water availability, and trespassing concerns. He said, “The amount of traffic that’s going to be going into this area will also increase and will make it even harder to get in and out of our community.” Kevin Beechwood, a Chaparral Hills resident, who also spoke at the Planning Commission meeting, again voiced his opposition to the development, pointing out that the applicant planned to put 50 units on a property which is the size of one Chaparral Hills’ lot.

The vote to approve was unanimous. VanderWerf said, “It appears to me that this is a better choice than multi-family homes in this particular location.”

Six-lot development approved in Black Forest

At the Dec. 12 BOCC land use meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve a request by Wayne-Anthony Custom Homes for approval of a 35-acre final plat to create six single-family lots. The property is zoned RR-5 (residential rural) and is on Mariah Trail, about a mile south of Highway 404 and a mile west of Black Forest Road.

The application came to the BOCC from the Nov. 7 Planning Commission meeting where the vote to recommend approval was unanimous. The BOCC heard it as a consent item, meaning there was no discussion.

2025 budget adopted

At the Dec. 10 meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to adopt and appropriate the 2025 budget. It prioritizes critical needs and investments in road construction, the county courthouse, stormwater projects, and public safety.

Nikki Simmons, chief financial officer, said, “This budget is a total revenue source of $500 million and does include an $8.3 million TABOR refund that will be on 2024 property tax bills payable in 2025. This will be allocated to residential, real properties and [be] approximately $36 per household.”

Commissioner Holly Williams said, “This is a fantastic budget. I am incredibly proud of our staff who put it together.”

Honoring Commissioners Gonzalez and VanderWerf

Also at the Dec. 10 meeting, the work of departing Commissioners Gonzalez and VanderWerf was recognized with proclamations honoring their service. VanderWerf’s district includes the Towns of Palmer Lake and Monument.

Both have served two four-year terms and will leave office in January 2025. The new commissioners joining the board in January are Fountain City Councilman Cory Applegate, who replaces Gonzalez, and Bill Wysong, president, Mountain Shadows Community, and Westside Watch co-founder, who takes over from VanderWerf.

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The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) usually meets every Tuesday at 9 am at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Agendas and meetings can be viewed at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Information is available at 719-520-643. BOCC land use meetings are normally held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1 pm in Centennial Hall.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other EL Paso Board of County Commissioners articles

El Paso Board of County Commissioners, Nov. 5 and 14 – Approval of two Tri-Lakes developments

By Helen Walklett

During November, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved development requests for the Waterside at Lake Woodmoor development off Woodmoor Drive and the final portion of the Settlers Ranch development north of Hodgen Road.

Waterside at Lake Woodmoor

At the Nov. 14 BOCC land use meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve rezone and preliminary plan requests for the 44 single-family townhome development, Waterside at Lake Woodmoor. The property is east of Woodmoor Drive, south of Deer Creek Road, and borders the lake to its east. The applications came to the BOCC from the Oct. 17 county Planning Commission meeting with a unanimous recommendation for approval.

The property is part of a development plan for the Waterside Condominiums, which were approved by the BOCC in 1983. This would have seen 83 condominiums built, but the development never moved forward. In 2023, the current owner proposed a rezone and preliminary plan that would have seen 52 single-family townhomes developed. The application was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission by a vote of 6-1 but was withdrawn by the applicant before the BOCC hearing. This new application proposes eight fewer units.

The rezone application requested that the 7.53-acre property be rezoned from R-4 (planned development) to Planned Unit Development (PUD).

Woodmoor resident Tim Rowan spoke at the BOCC hearing to raise concerns about traffic, particularly around school drop-off and pick-up times. He said, “Somewhere between 44 and 88 vehicles are going to be added at rush hour to Deer Creek Road every day directly across from the junior high.”

He continued, “It’s going to be a miserable impact on the neighborhood.”

“If there is a plan to widen Deer Creek Road and to lessen the impact on the junior high students, my neighbors and I would like to see it,” Rowan said.

Jim White, also a Woodmoor resident, also raised traffic concerns and described the development as “another eyesore within our beautiful community.”

Commissioner Holly Williams said she was satisfied the approval criteria had been met. Approval of the preliminary plan means that subsequent final plats and other agreements may be approved administratively.

Settlers Ranch

Also at the Nov. 14 land use meeting, the commissioners approved requests for a rezone and final plat for the final portion of the Settlers Ranch development. This will see a total of 24 single-family residential lots created. The requests came from the Oct. 17 Planning Commission meeting with recommendations for approval.

The 78.71-acre property is situated north of Hodgen Road, west of Steppler Road, and east of the currently developed part of Settlers Ranch, which consists of single-family detached lots varying between 2.5 and 5 acres. The development adjoins the Abert Ranch and Settlers View subdivisions to the north. The property is in two separate areas that are joined and served by Settlers Ranch Road.

The BOCC approved the Settlers Ranch development in January 2005 for a total of 86 single-family lots. The current application to rezone from PUD to RR-2.5 (residential rural), concerns only the 53.53-acre part of the property to the north and west. It adds six lots to this part of the development, which was originally planned to have 10, therefore increasing the total number of lots to 92.

The 22.51-acre portion of the property to the south and west remains a PUD with eight lots varying from 2.5 to 2.74 acres.

The BOCC heard the requests as consent items, meaning there was no discussion.

Final budget direction

At the Nov. 5 meeting, Nikki Simmons, chief financial officer, attended to receive final direction from the commissioners on the proposed 2025 preliminary balanced budget. The commissioners made no changes to the budget as presented to them at their Oct. 8 meeting. See https://wp.ocn.me/v24n11epcbocc/

The $530.8 million budget is now scheduled to be adopted at the Dec. 10 BOCC meeting.

Chair Carrie Geitner told Simmons, “I think the fact that there is no new direction today is just a testament to the incredible amount of work that has gone into this budget over many, many months from both you and, your team, and our county administrator.”

The preliminary budget and all supporting documents can be viewed on the county website at https://admin.elpasoco.com/financial-services/budget-finance/county-budget/.

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The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) usually meets every Tuesday at 9 am at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Agendas and meetings can be viewed at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Information is available at 719-520-643. BOCC land use meetings are normally held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1 pm in Centennial Hall.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Board of County Commissioners articles

El Paso County Planning Commission, Nov. 7 and 21 – Housing density, compatibility concerns raised with proposed Monument Ridge development

By Helen Walklett

During November, the commissioners heard requests relating to the proposed Monument Ridge development south of County Line Road and directly east of I-25. They also recommended for approval a final plat in Black Forest that would create six single-family lots.

Monument Ridge

At their Nov. 21 meeting, the commissioners heard requests for two rezones and a preliminary plan for the proposed Monument Ridge development. The property is just under 60 acres and is directly southeast of the intersection of Interstate 25 and County Line Road, southwest of the intersection of County Line Road and Doewood Drive, and a half-mile north of the intersection of Monument Hill Road and Misty Acres Boulevard. It is currently zoned a mixture of Planned Unit Development (PUD), RS-20000 (residential suburban) and various commercial zonings. Before the applications to county, the property was twice the subject of unsuccessful attempts to annex it into the Town of Monument.

The property would be bisected by the planned extension north of Misty Acres Boulevard. The first rezone concerns almost 19 acres east of this extension and would be rezoned to RS-6000 (residential suburban). The applicant plans to create 37 single-family lots on this portion and has committed to 15,000-square-foot lots against the existing 20,000-square-foot lots on the property’s eastern boundary.

The second rezone relates to the 40.51-acre portion west of the Misty Acres Boulevard extension which is bordered to the west by I-25. This rezone would be to the higher density zoning of RM-12 (residential, multi-dwelling). The preliminary plan shows 21 multi-family lots with 305 family units on this portion. The applicant’s letter of intent states that these units will be attached single-family rental units or condo units.

The applicant held a neighborhood meeting in June with over 100 residents in attendance. Kylie Bagley, principal planner, Planning and Community Development Department, said neighbors raised concerns about traffic, landscaping, usable open space, water availability, and housing density. She said 98 adjacent neighbors had been notified ahead of the public hearings and the county had received opposition to the applications.

Craig Dossey of Vertex Consulting Services LLC and representing the applicant said they were bringing up a preliminary plan concurrent with a rezoning so everyone could see the detail of what is being proposed. He stated that the current zoning would allow a lot of different commercial uses on parts of the property. Referring to the northern portion, he said, “A developer could come in today, buy this property, and go build commercial without any approval from the Planning Commission or the Board of County Commissioners.”

During the public comment section of the hearing, six neighbors spoke in support, preferring to see residential developed rather than commercial.

Harold Larson, a Doewood Drive resident, said, “What I’m asking is for you to not back the developer into a corner where he has to go back to the original zoning, where he has to go back to putting commercial there.” He added, “Residential is what I want.”

Bruce Sidebotham, who owns property immediately to the south, said, “This plan brings it all together there in a way that I can live with and that I think supports the Gateway to Monument idea.”

Former Monument Town Council member Darcy Schoening described the proposals as “the best possible solution for this land.”

Twelve people spoke in opposition. While agreeing with those in favor that they did not want to see commercial development, some voiced concerns about the higher density RM-12 rezoning. Doewood Drive resident Robin Wright said his opposition was to the RM-12 rezoning and asked if the rezoning could be RS-6000 throughout.

The Town of Monument has submitted a resolution protesting the rezoning. It states that the development has minimal to no passive or active open space, would put a strain on the town’s Police Department, is detrimental to the preservation of the natural environment, and urges the Planning Commission and the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) to reconsider the proposal as a PUD.

Steve King, Monument mayor pro tem, spoke at the hearing to say a PUD application would have ensured community input. Monument Mayor Mitch LaKind voiced concerns about the town’s ability to adequately police the development and said the density was too much. Monument Town Councilmember Kenneth Kimple spoke by phone and said he was not against development but felt the RM-12 high density was not a necessity or need.

In rebuttal, Dossey said those who had spoken in favor were “immediate, adjacent owners telling you this is what’s right for the property.”

The vote to recommend the rezone to RS-6000 was 8-0. The vote to approve the higher density RM-12 zoning was tied 4-4 with Commissioners Jim Byers, Christopher Whitney, Tim Trowbridge, and Eric Moraes the nay votes due to compatibility concerns.

Byers said, “I didn’t hear a compelling justification for the density. I don’t believe it’s compatible with the existing condition.” Trowbridge commented that “the density doesn’t feel quite right.” Chair Tom Bailey said, “I think this would have been an improvement over what’s currently authorized by right.” The tied vote means this rezoning application goes to the BOCC with no recommendation.

The commissioners voted 5-3 to recommend the preliminary plan for approval. The nay votes were Moraes, Trowbridge, and Whitney. Whitney stated, “I’m not smart enough to get my mind around approving a plan that contains a major element with which I disagree.” Moraes and Trowbridge agreed.

The applications are now scheduled to be heard at the BOCC land use meeting on Dec. 12. If the preliminary plan is approved, final plats may be approved administratively.

At the Nov. 7 meeting, the commissioners heard a request by Wayne-Anthony Custom Homes for approval of a 35-acre final plat to create six single-family lots. The property is zoned RR-5 (residential rural) and is on Mariah Trail, about a mile south of Highway 404 and a mile west of Black Forest Road.

Two Elk Creek Ranch residents, whose property adjoins the proposed development, phoned into the meeting to comment on access and voice concerns that residents of the new development would have to use Elk Creek Ranch’s roads for access but would do so without having to abide by their covenants.

Commissioner Jeffrey Markewich asked for clarification on the ownership of the roads and was told they are public and maintained by the county. Commissioner Becky Fuller pointed out that covenants are not part of the review criteria.

The vote to recommend approval was unanimous. This is now scheduled to be heard at the BOCC land use meeting on Dec. 12.

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The El Paso County Planning Commission normally meets the first and (as required) the third Thursday of each month at the Regional Development Center, 2880 International Circle, Colo. Springs. Meetings are live-streamed on the El Paso County News and Information Channel at www.elpasoco.com/news-information-channel. Information is available at 719-520-6300 and https://planningdevelopment.elpasoco.com/planning-community-development/2024-hearings-schedule/.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Planning Commission articles

El Paso Board of County Commissioners, Oct. 8 and 15 – County presents its 2025 preliminary balanced budget

By Helen Walklett

During October, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) heard proposals for the 2025 county budget. The commissioners also voted to appoint Commissioner Carrie Geitner as chair. Current Chair Cami Bremer is preparing to leave for a new role in 2025.

2025 preliminary balanced budget

The county Financial Services Department presented the preliminary balanced budget at the Oct 8 BOCC meeting.

Bret Waters, county administrator, said, “I am pleased to present a conservative budget that emphasizes public safety, roads, and stormwater infrastructure.” He added, “We also submit a responsible budget with healthy financial reserves.” Nikki Simmons, chief financial officer, stated that the budget’s priorities were to ensure a stable financial future for the county.

The $530.8 million budget prioritizes investments in road infrastructure and public safety. It includes a one-time allocation of $12 million into roads for resurfacing, construction, and safety improvement projects. This investment is part of a multi-year plan to address the existing backlog and brings the 2025 road and bridge allocation to $41.3 million.

The proposed budget also includes $4.5 million toward courthouse infrastructure to increase capacity in anticipation of the allocation of additional judges, $4.2 million for a stormwater improvement project, and $1.2 million to public safety departments and offices.

It includes a $8.25 million TABOR refund. If approved, residential property taxpayers will receive an equal share of this refund on their 2025 property tax bill, amounting to about $36 per residential property. The county has also announced a 13.7% reduction in the 2025 property tax mill levy due to TABOR, which will provide tax relief to all property owners.

The budget also proposes maintaining $9.23 million in emergency reserves.

Bremer commented, “We’re in a really great place. In an unsure economic environment, I see a very sure thing in how El Paso County will continue to serve its citizens.”

At two other BOCC hearings in October, county departments and offices set out their critical needs. The public is encouraged to participate in the budget-setting process and may attend and comment at the budget hearings Nov. 5 and Dec. 10 or directly with officials. The BOCC will give its final direction on the budget at the Nov. 5 meeting. The budget is scheduled to be adopted at the Dec. 10 meeting.

The preliminary budget and all supporting documents can be viewed on the county website at https://admin.elpasoco.com/financial-services/budget-finance/county-budget/

Geitner appointed chair

Also at the Oct. 8 meeting, the commissioners voted to appoint Geitner as chair for the remainder of 2024 with immediate effect. Geitner replaces Bremer, who will assume the role of vice chair for the remainder of the year. The leadership change follows Bremer’s announcement that she will transition into her new role as CEO of Pikes Peak United Way in early 2025 and is intended to ensure a smooth transition.

The two will serve in these roles until the Jan. 14, 2025 BOCC meeting, when the commissioners will elect their 2025 leadership.

Planning Commission reappointment

Also in October, the commissioners voted to reappoint Eric Moraes to the county Planning Commission. His second term will run until Oct. 8, 2027.

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The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) usually meets every Tuesday at 9 am at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Agendas and meetings can be viewed at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Information is available at 719-520-643. BOCC land use meetings are normally held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1 pm in Centennial Hall.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other EPC Board of County Commissioners articles

El Paso County Planning Commission, Oct. 17 – Two Tri-Lakes developments recommended for approval

By Helen Walklett

During October, the El Paso County Planning Commission recommended for approval development requests for the final portion of the Settlers Ranch development north of Hodgen Road and the Waterside at Lake Woodmoor development off Woodmoor Drive.

Settlers Ranch

At their Oct. 17 meeting, the commissioners heard requests for a rezone and final plat for the final portion of the Settlers Ranch development. A total of 24 single-family residential lots would be created.

The 78.71-acre property is situated north of Hodgen Road, west of Steppler Road and east of the currently developed part of Settlers Ranch, which consists of single-family detached lots varying between 2.5 and 5 acres. The development adjoins the Abert Ranch and Settlers View subdivisions to the north. The property is in two separated areas that are joined and served by Settlers Ranch Road.

The El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved the Settlers Ranch development in January 2005 for a total of 86 single-family lots. The current application to rezone from planned unit development (PUD) to RR-2.5 (residential rural), concerns only the 53.53-acre part of the property to the north and west. It would add six lots to this part of the development, which was originally planned to have 10, therefore increasing the total number of lots to 92.

In their letter of intent, the applicant states that the character of the area has changed and an RR-2.5 zoning would now provide consistency with the surrounding area. Under the original PUD zoning, lots in this portion would have ranged from 3 to 5.5 acres.

The 22.51-acre portion of the property to the south and west would remain as a PUD with eight lots varying from 2.5 to 2.74 acres.

Waterside at Lake Woodmoor

Also at the Oct. 17 meeting, the commissioners heard rezone and preliminary plan requests for the proposed 44-single family townhome development, Waterside at Lake Woodmoor. The property is east of Woodmoor Drive and south of Deer Creek Road and borders the lake to its east.

The property is part of a development plan for the Waterside Condominiums, which were approved by the BOCC in 1983. This would have seen 83 condominiums built, but the development never moved forward. In 2023, the current owner proposed a rezone and preliminary plan that would have seen 52 single-family town homes developed. The application was recommended for approval by the Planning Commission by a vote of 6-1 but was withdrawn by the applicant before the BOCC hearing. This new application proposes eight fewer units. See https://ocn.me/v23n6.htm#epcpc.

The rezone application requests that the 7.53-acre property be rezoned from R-4 (planned development) to PUD. Approval of the preliminary plan would mean that subsequent final plats and other agreements could be approved administratively.

The proposed units would be attached and each would have a two-car garage. The density would be significantly lower than the 1980s plan at 5.84 dwelling units per acre. Just over an acre of land would be donated to the Woodmoor Improvement Association to provide a buffer to the existing single-family residential neighborhood to the south.

The commissioners voted unanimously to recommend the applications for approval, and they are now due to be heard at the BOCC land use meeting on Nov. 14.

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The El Paso County Planning Commission normally meets the first and (as required) the third Thursday of each month at the Regional Development Center, 2880 International Circle, Colo. Springs. Meetings are live-streamed on the El Paso County News and Information Channel at www.elpasoco.com/news-information-channel. Information is available at 719-520-6300 and https://planningdevelopment.elpasoco.com/planning-community-development/2024-hearings-schedule/.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other EPC Planning Commission articles

El Paso Board of County Commissioners, Sept. 12, 24, and 26 – Development approvals for Black Forest and Palmer Lake projects

By Helen Walklett

During September, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved a request to extend the Cathedral Pines subdivision in Black Forest, adding eight residential lots. The commissioners also approved land use applications for a Black Forest and a property in the unincorporated county near Palmer Lake.

The Estates at Cathedral Pines

At the Sept. 12 BOCC land use meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve an application by Villagree Development LLC which will extend the Cathedral Pines subdivision, adding eight residential lots in a gated community to be known as The Estates at Cathedral Pines.

The application included a request to rezone 35.09 acres from RR-5 (residential rural) to PUD (planned unit development) and approve a preliminary plan for eight single-family residential lots with open space provision. The currently vacant property is on the west side of Winslow Drive, about 1 mile northwest of the intersection of Shoup and Milam Roads.

The applicant also sought a finding of water sufficiency with regards to water quality, quantity, and dependability. Approval of the preliminary plan with such a finding means subsequent final plats may be approved administratively, i.e. without public hearings.

The application was heard as a consent item, meaning there was no discussion. It came from the Aug. 15 El Paso County Planning Commission meeting with a unanimous recommendation for approval.

Minor subdivision near Palmer Lake

At the Sept. 26 BOCC land use meeting, the commissioners approved a request by Clifford Joyner to replat two existing lots as four single-family lots. The 3-acre property is zoned RR-0.5 (rural residential) and is located on Cloven Hoof Drive, off Highway 105, near Palmer Lake. The subdivision will be known as Ponderosa Pine Estates.

The application came from the Planning Commission’s Sept. 5 meeting with a unanimous recommendation for approval. A member of the public had stated that they wished to call in to that meeting remotely to comment but staff were unable to contact them.

At the BOCC hearing, adjacent neighbors Kimberly and Christopher Heydlauff voiced concerns about whether the new homes would be private or rental properties, a matter which was unclear from the documentation. They also stated that Joyner intended to use an existing easement on their property to access the two southern lots. The Heydlauffs were unable to attend the Planning Commission hearing but had submitted comments that are part of the official record. Ryan Howser, senior planner, Planning and Community Development, stated, “The request does not contemplate whether or not the lots will be owner occupied or rental occupied. That’s not criteria that we can consider with a replat.”

Lori Seago, senior assistant county attorney, told the commissioners that a criterion for subdivision approval is that the lots have legal access and that it was her opinion that they did in this case via the existing easement on the Heydlauffs’ property. She added that this could be challenged in court.

The commissioners agreed that the points raised by the Heydlauffs were not related to any of the criteria to be considered during the hearing and therefore decided not to elevate the application to a full hearing. They encouraged them to work with Joyner to reach a way forward. They voted to unanimously approve the application.

Center Ice View minor subdivision

Also at the Sept. 26 meeting, the commissioners unanimously approved an application by Andrew Alm for a final plat to create two single-family residential lots on a 12.72-acre property zoned RR-5 (residential rural), a quarter-mile north of Hay Creek Road.

The property was created through an illegal subdivision of land in 2002 with the property previously being part of a 70-acre parcel to the west. The final plat application legalizes the existing unplatted lot and plats the property into two new lots of 7.71 and 5 acres to be known as Driftwood Estates. A private water supply well and wastewater septic tank will be installed to serve the lots.

At the Sept. 5 Planning Commission meeting, a nearby property owner raised concerns about adding a well to the neighborhood. He said, “This area, if we use average flows out of the aquifer, from this area we should get 15 gallons a minute. No one gets 15 gallons a minute in that area. I get about a quart a minute so I’m naturally a little bit concerned about adding even more wells to an area where most people already buy water and have it hauled.”

Commissioner Tim Trowbridge responded, “We have very limited control over the water. That’s controlled by the state.” He added, “El Paso County does have a more stringent 300-year requirement that that water supply must be good for whereas the state only mandates 100 so we try and do what we can.”

The application came to the BOCC from the Planning Commission meeting with a unanimous recommendation for approval. Both hearings heard the application as a consent item, meaning there was no further discussion.

Fox Run Nature Center Canopy Walk

Also in September, the commissioners voted to approve a grant submittal to Colorado Parks and Wildlife’s Land and Water Conservation Fund (LWCF) for the Fox Run Canopy Walk project. The project is one component of the Nature Center at Fox Run Regional Park. The Canopy Walk is intended to be an educational hub. It will start with an observation tower that will allow access to the forest canopy.

The Canopy Walk is estimated to cost $3 million. Parks and Community Services has committed $1.75 million to the project and is currently completing a capital fundraising campaign to complement this commitment. A successful application for $1.25 million from the LWCF would see the project fully funded. Final design and cost estimates for this part of the nature center project are due at the end of the year. Construction is estimated to begin in late 2025 with opening in 2026.

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The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) usually meets every Tuesday at 9 am at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Agendas and meetings can be viewed at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Information is available at 719-520-643. BOCC land use meetings are normally held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1 pm in Centennial Hall.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso Board of County Commissioners articles

El Paso County Planning Commission, Aug. 1 and 15 – Extension to Cathedral Pines development recommended for approval

By Helen Walklett

During August, the El Paso County Planning Commission recommended for approval a request which would extend the Cathedral Pines subdivision, adding eight residential lots in a gated community to be known as The Estates at Cathedral Pines. They also heard requests that would see two Black Forest properties each divided into two separate lots.

The Estates at Cathedral Pines

At their Aug. 15 meeting, the commissioners heard a request by Villagree Development LLC for approval of a rezoning of 35.09 acres from RR-5 (residential rural) to PUD (planned unit development) and approval of a preliminary plan for eight single-family residential lots with open space provision. The currently vacant property is on the west side of Winslow Drive, about 1 mile northwest of the intersection of Shoup and Milam Roads.

The applicant is also seeking a finding of water sufficiency with regards to water quality, quantity, and dependability. Approval of the preliminary plan with such a finding would mean subsequent final plats could be approved administratively, i.e. without public hearings.

The proposed development would be an extension of the Cathedral Pines subdivision, which surrounds the property to the north and east. The proposed lots would range from 2.93 to 4.23 acres and are considered consistent with those in the Cathedral Pines subdivision where the minimum lot size is 2.5 acres. Falcon Forest, the subdivision to the south, has a minimum lot size of 5 acres. The 132-acre property to the west is zoned RR-5 and is undeveloped.

The commissioners voted to recommend the request for approval. It was heard as a consent item, meaning there was no discussion. It is now scheduled to be considered at the Sept. 12 El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) land use meeting.

Hodgen Road and Snowmass Drive properties

At their Aug. 1 meeting, the commissioners heard a request to subdivide a Hodgen Road property into two residential lots. The 38.68-acre property is zoned RR-5 and is south of Hodgen Road just east of the intersection of Roller Coaster Road and Baptist Road. The proposed lots would be 20.25 and 18.41 acres.

At the same meeting, the commissioners considered a request to replat a 10.36-acre property on Snow Mass Drive east of Black Forest Road to create two residential lots. The two lots would be just over 5 acres each in conformity with the zoning. The property is zoned RR-5.

The commissioners voted unanimously to recommend both applications for approval. They were heard as consent items, meaning there was no discussion. They went on to be approved at the BOCC land use meeting on Aug. 22, again as consent items.

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The El Paso County Planning Commission normally meets the first and (as required) the third Thursday of each month at the Regional Development Center, 2880 International Circle, Colo. Springs. Meetings are live-streamed on the El Paso County News and Information Channel at www.elpasoco.com/news-information-channel. Information is available at 719-520-6300 and https://planningdevelopment.elpasoco.com/planning-community-development/2024-hearings-schedule/.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Planning Commission articles

El Paso Board of County Commissioners, July 9 and 25 – Black Forest property to be divided into two lots

By Helen Walklett

During July, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved a request to create two lots on a 6.02-acre Black Forest property and approved requests connected to renovation work at Fox Run Regional Park and the Fox Run Nature Center.

Vessey Road rezone

At the July 25 BOCC land use meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve a final plat application by Pawel Posorski to create two single-family lots of just over 2.5 acres each on a 6.02-acre Vessey Road property, about one-third of a mile east of the intersection of Vessey and Holmes Roads. The land was rezoned from RR-5 (rural residential) to RR-2.5 (rural residential) in April. See wp.ocn.me/v24n5epcbocc/.

The application came from the El Paso County Planning Commission’s June 20 meeting with a unanimous recommendation for approval. It was heard at both the Planning Commission and BOCC hearings as a consent item, meaning there was no discussion.

Work at Fox Run Regional Park

At their July 9 meeting, the commissioners approved a purchase order for Matrix Design Group Inc. to provide site planning, landscape architecture, and civil engineering design services for the Fox Run Regional Park ponds and gazebo project at an amount not to exceed $207,175.

The project consists of a study of the wedding gazebo for relocation and reconstruction near the stone seating amphitheater, improvements to the amphitheater itself to ensure The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) access, the dredging of both ponds and the installation of a synthetic pond liner, and the provision of ADA access from the parking area to the gazebo, amphitheater, and around the ponds if practical. Work is expected to begin in September and continue through the end of 2025.

Work underway since July on the restrooms near the two play areas is designed to enhance accessibility and is expected to run through November. Portable restrooms are available in both parking lots while the remodeling takes place.

At the same meeting, the commissioners approved a change order for TDG Architecture Inc. to provide additional project management and preliminary design and construction document services for the Fox Run Nature Center at an amount not to exceed $46,697.

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The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) usually meets every Tuesday at 9 am at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Agendas and meetings can be viewed at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Information is available at 719-520-643. BOCC land use meetings are normally held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1 pm in Centennial Hall.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) articles

El Paso Board of County Commissioners, June 13, 25, and 27 – Monument glamping expansion approved; short-term rental allowed to continue at Black Forest property

By Helen Walklett

During June, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved a request to expand a glamping site near Monument and an application to allow short-term rentals to continue at a Black Forest property.

Monument glamping site expansion

At their June 27 land use meeting, the commissioners heard a request from owner Chris Jeub for approval of an amendment to an existing special use to allow four extra sites at his glamping business with the potential for some hard-sided structures such as recreational vehicles (RVs) and shipping containers. The 6.44-acre property, zoned RR-5 (rural residential), is located at Rickenbacker Avenue, west of Interstate 25 and bordering the Town of Monument.

Note: Glamping is a term that combines “glamor” and “camping,” meaning camping with certain amenities. Jeub is a volunteer with OCN.

The application came from the Planning Commission with a 7-2 vote recommending denial. See the Planning Commission article on page < 5 >.

Ashlyn Mathy, planner II, Planning and Community Development Department, said Jeub had successfully applied for a special use permit in 2022 following a code enforcement complaint about structures such as tents, decks, and sheds at the property. The special use permitted eight tent sites. The current modification request follows complaints of an RV and shipping container on the property. Mathy said staff’s analysis of the master plan suggested the expansion may not be compatible with the rural nature of the area and its minimal change classification.

Above: Monument Glamping consisting of two properties and 11 units, was submitted to El Paso County Planning and Development for four additional units and the ability to change structures on their RR-5 property along Monument Creek. The submittal was voted down on a 7-2 vote by the Planning Commission on June 6 but approved by the Board of County Commissioners on a 3-1 decision on June 27. Vicinity map courtesy El Paso County.

Mathy explained the modification would permit those hard-sided structures. With three of the sites restricted to tents because they are on the Monument Creek floodplain where permanent development is not allowed, those opposing the application feared the other nine would be hard-sided structures. Mathy said the applicant had not disclosed the number that would be hard-sided, making it difficult to assess the impact.

Craig Dossey, president, Vertex Consulting Services, representing the applicant, focused on the application’s compatibility with the master plan and the review criteria. He said, “We believe that a glamping operation not only brings tourism into the area, but it is also consistent with the rural character of the neighborhood, and it actually helps serve the Monument and Palmer Lake areas by providing additional, overnight accommodation.” He continued, “We’re talking about a start-up company. We’re talking about emphasizing and supporting tourism in our region.”

Fifteen individuals spoke in support of the application. Terri Hayes, president and CEO, Tri-Lakes Chamber of Commerce, described the business as a valuable asset to the area providing an alternative lodging option in an area where accommodations are scarce. A neighbor to the north said the business had had no negative impact on him.

Four people spoke in opposition. Chris Maciejewski, attorney with Robinson and Henry P.C. and representing several of the neighbors, said, “This is not a minor expansion of a recreational camp from eight sites to 12. This would not continue to be a low impact, nature-based use of the property. This is essentially creating an RV park.” He continued, “We believe the Planning Commission asked the right questions, made the right recommendation.”

In rebuttal, Dossey was critical of the Planning Commission hearing and decision. He said, “There was very little discussion about the review criteria, and I think it’s something the county attorney should be cautious with because that hearing really had very little discussion about the criteria, and the decision that was rendered was not focused on the criteria.” He said the master plan supported everything about the application in its location.

Dossey then put forward three additional conditions proposed by his client to be attached to any approval. Two would limit the footprint and height of any hard-sided structures and would mean the current RV on the property would have to be removed. The third would require five of the sites to be tent-only.

Commissioner Stan VanderWerf, making a motion to deny, said, “I would encourage the applicant to continue to enjoy the use of the special use permit that is presently approved but I am not comfortable making a declaration for myself that this is compatible and in harmony with the area.” Commissioner Holly Williams seconded the motion.

Commissioner Carrie Geitner disagreed, stating she found it consistent with the master plan. Bremer agreed and the vote to deny the application was tied 2-2 and the motion failed. Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez Jr. was absent. County attorney Kenneth Hodges advised that the recording of the hearing would now go to Gonzalez for review and the board would return at a later date for any questions and to vote on a new motion.

Bremer called a brief recess. When the commissioners returned, Williams stated, “I am convinced by Commissioner Geitner’s arguments that it is an allowable use. Perhaps maybe what I’m unconvinced of is that I liked the allowable use in the first place. So, based upon that, I would make a motion to reconsider and rescind my previous motion.” The vote supporting this motion was 3-1 with VanderWerf the nay vote.

Williams said, “I just apologize. I do believe this one is a messy one and this special use process is very, very hard.” She then moved to approve the application with the addition of the extra conditions proposed by the applicant. This vote succeeded 3-1 and again VanderWerf was the nay vote.

Variance allows short-term rentals at Black Forest property

At the June 13 BOCC land use meeting, the commissioners heard a request from owners Drew and Tarah MacAlmon for approval of a variance of use to allow an existing ancillary building to continue to be used as an occasional short-term rental. The 4.78-acre property is located on South Holmes Road, south of its intersection with Burgess Road, and is zoned RR-5 (residential rural).

The application came to the BOCC with a recommendation for approval following a 5-3 vote at the May 2 Planning Commission meeting. Discussion at that meeting focused on the history of the ancillary structure and the use tied to the original approval, the timeline of when the rentals started, and concerns that the applicants may have tried to circumnavigate the county’s process in order to rent out the structure. Speaking to his nay vote, Commissioner Tim Trowbridge said, “I don’t think this is compatible with the neighborhood. I don’t think short-term rentals belong here.” See www.ocn.me/v24n6.htm#epcpc.

Ashlyn Mathy, planner II, Planning and Community Development Department, said the MacAlmons received approval in 2018 for an ancillary building to provide home office and additional living space. It passed all inspections in 2019, and the bedrooms in the basement of the building have been rented out on a short-term basis since that time with the owners not knowing this was not an allowed use. In 2022, an anonymous complaint about the rental was made to county’s code enforcement officers and a violation notice followed.

The MacAlmons then met with county staff and were advised not to submit a variance of use application at that time, which would bring the rental activity into compliance, because county was exploring code amendments that would allow accessory dwelling units. When this was put on hold waiting for the state Legislature, the applicants were asked to submit a variance of use application, and this was done in August 2023.

Above: Planned campsite locations. Another proposal was approved administratively for 24 units on a separate property on the east side of town. The entire glamping operation will total 36 units by summer 2025. Graphic courtesy El Paso County.

Mathy said 15 neighbors were notified of the application, and the county received one email in opposition. Two neighbors spoke in opposition at the hearing. Speaking online on behalf of his parents who share a boundary with the MacAlmons, one man raised concerns about the drain on water resources and increased traffic. He said, “They have clearly wanted to build this Airbnb from Day 1 and now that they’ve been caught, are trying to get approval.”

Speaking in person, his brother said he had thought the rental was already approved and mentioned lots of traffic, big congregations at the site, and disturbance. He said, “The MacAlmons willfully fulfilled their dream of having a showcase Airbnb at the expense of the neighborhood’s ability to experience what living on a quiet, rural, dead-end road can give.” He added, “It’s not a place for entrepreneurial commerce.”

Nina Ruiz, Vertex Consulting, and representing the applicants, said a lot of the discussion had been based on neighborhood disputes and not the review criteria. She said three letters of support had been received, two of which came from immediately adjacent neighbors.

Commissioner Holly Williams said, “On this one I have to fall back on, you know, that they would have a right to certainly rent out their second home now that they’ve come through this process.” Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez Jr. was concerned that allowing the application would set a precedent allowing accessory structures to be rented. Commissioner Carrie Geitner said, “We need to be able to have the discussion around how to allow people to use their property with the most freedom possible but also mitigating impacts. I think that is very American, quite frankly, so I will be in support of this.”

The vote to approve was 4-1 with Gonzalez the nay vote. The approval includes a condition that the variance only apply while the MacAlmons own the property.

Planning Commission reappointments

At the June 25 BOCC meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to reappoint Commissioners Jeff Markewich and Wayne Smith as associate members of the Planning Commission. Their new terms will end on June 25, 2025.

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The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) usually meets every Tuesday at 9 am at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Agendas and meetings can be viewed at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Information is available at 719-520-643. BOCC land use meetings are normally held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1 pm in Centennial Hall.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Board of County Commissioners articles

El Paso County Planning Commission, June 6 and 20 – Planning commission recommend denial of Monument glamping site expansion

By Helen Walklett

At the El Paso County Planning Commission meeting on June 6, the commissioners heard a request to expand a glamping site near Monument. Also during June, the commissioners heard a final plat application for a Black Forest property.

Monument glamping site expansion

At their June 6 meeting, the commissioners heard a request by owner Chris Jeub for approval of an amendment to an existing special use to allow four extra sites at his glamping business on his 6.44-acre property at Rickenbacker Avenue, west of Interstate 25 and bordering the Town of Monument. The property is zoned RR-5 (rural residential).

Note: Glamping is a term combining “glamor” and “camping,” meaning camping with certain amenities. Jeub is a volunteer for OCN.

The commissioners heard that Jeub successfully applied for a special use permit for the business in 2022 following a 2021 code enforcement complaint that there were multiple structures on the property, besides the primary residence, such as tents and outdoor bathroom facilities. The special use permitted eight tent or yurt sites with four shared bathrooms and was granted administratively (meaning there were no public hearings) after opposition was withdrawn.

The current application follows complaints about a recreational vehicle (RV) and shipping container at the property. Its approval would modify the special use to increase the number of sites to 12 and allow for a variety of hard-sided camping structures to include RVs and shipping containers. Should approval be granted, the next step would see a site development plan submitted for county’s approval.

Ashlyn Mathy, planner II, Planning and Community Development Department, said the modification would permit various structures such as RVs and shipping containers, which are not normally something you would expect to see in a rural residential area. She continued, “The applicant has not identified the number of glamping sites that will utilize specifically shipping containers and RVs. Therefore, it’s going to be a little more difficult to determine the impact to the surrounding neighbors. With the utilization of the shipping containers and recreational vehicles, we do see that it may not be compatible with the surrounding rural residential neighborhood.”

Mathy said 29 neighbors had been notified and opposition received focused on safety and traffic concerns, a lack of compatibility with the surrounding area, and concerns about the applicant continually doing things on the property without approvals from county. Support for the application noted that it would be a boost to tourism and that it would not have a negative effect on the community. Staff had suggested conditions of approval based on the mitigation of negative impacts to neighbors using landscaping, fence buffering, and other measures to reduce visual impacts, noise, and lighting pollution.

Craig Dossey, president, Vertex Consulting Services, representing the applicant, said stays at the site are intended to be temporary, not exceeding 30 days at a time and no more than 90 in total in one year and stated that the Jeubs are very committed to operating a good business. Describing the proposal as a low-impact development, he said, “We think this is a great transition between a pretty urban area in the town, which is frankly a traditional subdivision just to the east, and that more rural area transitioning up to the National Forest.”

Jeub explained, “Container homes do very well as far as the way the market of glamping goes. Glamping changes very quickly as far as structures and how well the structures do in the market of glamping.” He explained that the additional sites would enable him to pay for some of the required improvements and said, “I want to have beautiful structures here. I don’t want to have junky structures and I think the RV is a step up from the tent that we had.” Dossey added, “There needs to be some flexibility because it is such a developing market right now.”

Commissioner Becky Fuller commented that it was not just four more tent sites that were being requested. She said, “I believe when this [the original application] was approved, the neighbors kind of let it go because it was tents.” She said she thought it was very intentional to approve tents and that this application was a different use variance than that which was already approved. She said she could not see the compatibility of short-term, summer camping versus the longer-term nature of hard-sided structures which could be lived in year-round. She also commented on the code violations which resulted in the special use applications, asking, “Why are we doing something and asking for forgiveness?”

Dossey said he felt the tent-only definition was county staff’s “interpretation” of the wording in the original special use. Mathy said, “it is clearly depicted that it’s all tents” and Meggan Herington, executive director, Planning and Community Development, concurred.

Chris Maciejewski, attorney with Robinson and Henry, P.C. and representing several of the neighbors, said, “It’s clear they’re asking for open-ended approval as to what they can do under that special use permit.” The three sites beside Monument Creek must be tents as no permanent development is permitted on the floodplain. Maciejewski said he thought the expectation is that the other nine would be hard-sided structures and commented, “The expansion to hard-sided structures is going to be a significant change from eight approved tent sites.”

Commissioner Eric Moraes said, “This was approved based on tents. Both the executive director and county attorney confirm that and now we are coming to what’s in my mind a drastically different business to be in the neighborhood with hard-sided, large structures.” Commissioner Christopher Whitney said, “I’m going to be opposed because I think it’s completely incompatible. It’s not really a modification of the earlier special usage but a brand-new application in my mind.”

Commissioner Thomas Bailey took a different view, stating, “Portions of the master plan encourage economic development, encourage this kind of thing, and I see it very much as an entrepreneurial use.” Commissioner Sarah Brittain Jack concurred.

The vote was 7-2 to recommend denial of the application. The nay votes were Bailey and Brittain Jack. The application was then heard at the El Paso Board of County Commissioners’ (BOCC) land use meeting on June 27. See BOCC article on page < 1 >.

Vessey Road rezone

At the June 20 meeting, the commissioners heard a final plat application by Pawel Posorski to create two single-family lots of just over 2.5 acres each on a 6.02-acre Vessey Road property, about one-third of a mile east of the intersection of Vessey Road and Holmes Road. The land was rezoned from RR-5 (rural residential) to RR-2.5 (rural residential) in April. See www.ocn.me/v24n5.htm?zoom_highlight=posorski.

The commissioners voted unanimously to recommend the application for approval. It was heard as a consent item, meaning there was no discussion, and is now due to be heard at the BOCC land use meeting on July 25.

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The El Paso County Planning Commission normally meets the first and (as required) the third Thursday of each month at the Regional Development Center, 2880 International Circle, Colo. Springs. Meetings are live-streamed on the El Paso County News and Information Channel at www.elpasoco.com/news-information-channel. Information is available at 719-520-6300 and planningdevelopment.elpasoco.com/planning-community-development/2024-hearings-schedule/.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Planning Commission articles

El Paso County Planning Commission, May 2 – Variance for Black Forest property would allow short-term rental to continue

By Helen Walklett

At the El Paso County Planning Commission meeting on May 2, the commissioners heard a request from owners Drew and Tarah MacAlmon for approval of a variance of use to allow an ancillary building to continue to be used as an occasional short-term rental. The 4.78-acre property is located on South Holmes Road, south of its intersection with Burgess Road, and is zoned RR-5 (residential rural).

The MacAlmons received approval in 2018 for an ancillary building to provide a home office and additional living space. It passed all inspections in 2019, and the bedrooms in the basement of the building have been rented out on a short-term basis since that time with the owners not knowing this was not an allowed use.

In 2022 an anonymous complaint about the rental was made to the county’s code enforcement officers, and a violation notice followed. The MacAlmons then met with county staff and were advised not to submit a variance of use application at that time, which would bring the rental activity into compliance, because the county was exploring code amendments that would allow accessory dwelling units.

Meggan Heringtion, executive director, Planning and Community Development, said, “I gave them the ability to hold off. We received the complaint about what we deemed a second dwelling. However, at the time we had been instructed to work on potential code revisions to allow accessory dwelling units and since we were working on that, I did say hold off.” She explained that when the amendment was put on hold waiting for the state Legislature, the applicants were asked to submit a variance of use application. This was done in August 2023.

Ashlyn Mathy, planner II, Planning and Community Development Department, explained that because the 2018 site plan showed no kitchen, the applicants were not required to sign an affidavit acknowledging they could not rent or lease the structure as a separate living unit. Renting the space was never discussed. She said 15 neighbors had been notified and no opposition had been received but a common theme from neighbors was the suggestion that the variance be tied to the owners rather than the property so that it would not be automatically transferred were the property to be sold.

The applicants represented themselves at the hearing. Speaking about the rental activity, Drew MacAlmon said, “We feel this is a way we can recoup some of the cost of rising property taxes as well as the investment we made into the structure.” He said there was no mention of short-term rental in county’s land development code in 2018.

Tarah MacAlmon told the commissioners their primary intent had always been to have a place to work from home and their focus was on completing the office space first. She said that over time they realized there might be a way for the other space in the building to be profitable.

Commissioner Tim Trowbridge commented that the staff report stated a kitchen is present. Drew MacAlmon responded that they had installed an oven without realizing it would be such an issue but had removed it when told it was not allowed. Trowbridge commented, “I’m troubled by what I see as a backdoor attempt at getting this approved.” Commissioner Becky Fuller said, “I would feel better if you said ‘We snook it in and got nailed” because that’s what I feel like happened.’

Drew MacAlmon said, “In our eyes, we went through the process there of inspections, plans, engineering, building that structure and that was all approved.” Tarah MacAlmon commented, “Our willingness and desire is to be fully in compliance and be able to rent this space out that we indeed have invested in.”

Mathy said there had been a unique situation with this project and that there had been some confusion with the process. Justin Kilgore, planning manager, Planning and Community Development, told the commissioners, “This application is the remedy to fix the miscommunications or perceived issues with the project.”

Fuller stated, “To me it’s all about the review criteria. I think the applicant has not shown this in their application. I don’t think that what we have been presented here today meets the appropriate criteria.” She encouraged them to work with department staff and to focus on the criteria to prepare for the El Paso Board of County Commissioners’ (BOCC) land use hearing.

Commissioner Bryce Schuettpelz said, “One of the criteria about the financial hardship is a hard argument to make because if you truly built it to be an office, you weren’t planning on income coming in.”

Trowbridge said, “Short-term rentals are a commercial enterprise. It’s not a guest house and it’s not compatible.”

Chair Tom Bailey stated, “I am in favor of this because I believe the variance is the appropriate vehicle for addressing a shortcoming in our current code and in our current process.”

A motion to approve without further conditions was amended by a vote of 6-2 to include a condition that the variance only apply while the MacAlmons own the property, becoming void upon its sale. The amended motion to recommend approval then succeeded by a vote of 5-3. The nay votes were Fuller, Trowbridge, and Commissioner Christopher Whitney.

Whitney advised the applicants to really look at the approval criteria ahead of the BOCC hearing. To the undue hardship criterium, he suggested the hardship may be that the process is confusing. Speaking to his nay vote, Trowbridge said, “I don’t think this is compatible with the neighborhood. I don’t think short-term rentals belong here.”

The application is now scheduled to be heard at the BOCC land use meeting on June 13.

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The El Paso County Planning Commission normally meets the first and (as required) the third Thursday of each month at the Regional Development Center, 2880 International Circle, Colo. Springs. Meetings are live-streamed on the El Paso County News and Information Channel at https://www.elpasoco.com/news-information-channel. Information is available at 719-520-6300 and https://planningdevelopment.elpasoco.com/planning-community-development/2024-hearings-schedule/.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County articles

El Paso Board of County Commissioners, May 9 – Hay Creek Valley subdivision approved despite opposition

By Helen Walklett

During May, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved two land use applications west of I-25. These were a final plat for the 20-lot Hay Creek Valley subdivision off Hay Creek Road despite neighbor concerns about wildfire risk and evacuation and a rezone to commercial for an Old Denver Road property.

Hay Creek Valley subdivision approved

At its May 9 land use meeting, the BOCC approved a request by View Homes Inc. for approval of a final plat for the Hay Creek Valley subdivision to create 20 single-family residential lots. The site has one existing single-family residence which will remain in the western portion of the site. The 214.62-acre property is zoned RR-5 (rural residential) and located west of Interstate 25, directly north of the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), south of the Forest Lakes subdivision, and southwest of Monument.

The BOCC’s unanimous decision to approve went against the recommendation of the El Paso County Planning Commission. A vote to recommend approval at its April 18 meeting failed by 3-5 resulting in a recommendation of denial. Members of the public spoke in opposition at that meeting, raising concerns about additional lots in the area, inadequate access, a section of county’s land development code which they believed was not satisfied, and traffic. The planning commissioners felt fire safety regarding ingress and egress was not met.

The subdivision’s preliminary plan was approved in fall 2023. Neighbors raised concerns about the lack of notification, water, the impact on wildlife, traffic, and wildfire evacuation at the Sept. 21 Planning Commission meeting where the preliminary plan was considered. No one spoke against the preliminary plan application at the Oct. 12 BOCC land use meeting where it was approved.

Kylie Bagley, planner III, Planning and Community Development Department, reminded the commissioners that the preliminary plan was approved with two waivers. One waived the requirement for public roads to allow a private road to service the subdivision. The other removed the requirement for two access routes.

Ed Schoenheit, engineer I, County Engineering Division, said access to the subdivision will be via a recorded access easement agreement with an adjacent property owner. Within the subdivision, access to the lots will be via a 1-mile private paved road which will have a dead-end cul-de-sac meeting county’s Engineering Criteria Manual and fire district design requirements with approved deviations. The private road will be gated and will join Hay Creek Road. The traffic study concluded that no improvements were required to Hay Creek Road itself.

Commissioner Stan VanderWerf said that, knowing there were several comments from residents about fire safety, was there a second way to get out on Hay Creek Road to the west? Schoenheit replied no and explained that Hay Creek terminates in the west farther down in the canyon area.

The property is on the northern boundary of the USAFA, an area where training operations take place. Bagley said that the USAFA had asked the developer to include plat notes and covenants to provide full disclosure of this to future lot owners. The USAFA also requested an “avigation” easement (giving the right of overflights in the airspace above or in the vicinity of the property) be recorded with the final plat.

Jason Alwine, Matrix Design Group Inc. and representing the owner, said the Fire Department [Monument Fire District] had requested the installation of a water cistern with a minimum capacity of 33,000 gallons at the far end of the cul-de-sac. The one being installed will hold 35,000 gallons. He stated that a Wildfire Hazard and Mitigation Report had also been submitted as part of the process and that some fire mitigation work had already taken place. He explained that lots will range from 5.5 to 17 acres with the larger lots situated on the southern part of the property abutting the USAFA boundary where vegetation and a ridge will provide a natural buffer between the subdivision and the USAFA training grounds. Eleven of the lots will be larger than 10 acres and all will be on well and septic.

Seven neighbors spoke in opposition. No one spoke in favor. The opposition focused on fire safety and traffic with concerns being voiced about evacuation in case of wildfire given that Hay Creek Road has only one way in and out, terminating in a dead end. Neighbors felt the application contravened Dead End Standard 8.4.4 D in the county’s land development code (LDC) which states “When more than 25 lots would front and take access to a dead-end road, a second means of access shall be provided.”

Resident Lorna Bennett read a statement from a neighbor which stated, “If you vote to approve this application, know that you will be effectively waiving the LDC dead-end road mandate thereby nullifying the intent and purpose of the LDC and further jeopardizing the safety, welfare, and lives of the current occupants of this valley as well as the future occupants of the development.”

Referring to the 25-home limit in the code’s dead-end standard, resident Kelly Parr said, “I just don’t understand how you can throw waivers at things that go against the law that defends people’s safety.” Another resident asked, “My question is how many casualties are you willing to accept? Five, 10? One is too many. Our safety is very much at risk here and I would like you to consider that.”

In rebuttal, Alwine said that the applicant was complying with all Fire Department requirements. Regarding the code condition, he stated that it did not apply to the subdivision, which has 20 lots. He said they had conversations about waivers and deviations at the preliminary plan stage with staff, engineering, and the Fire Department and that the Fire Department had given a letter of support which was submitted with the proposal.

Owner Joe Stifter, View Homes Inc., said, “The section of code that’s being referred to over and over and over, 8.4.4.D, it’s very specific in that it says, “No more than 25 units shall front and take access to a dead-end road” and what’s being continually referenced here is Hay Creek Road. We have 20 homes that front and take access from Snow Mountain Heights [the private road within the subdivision]. None of those front Hay Creek Road. So, speaking literally to the code, we meet that code.”

VanderWerf commented, “I do feel at this point I need the staff to provide a legal interpretation of this 8.4.4.D because we have different points of view with regard to this and I think it revolves around what space does the application of that land development code apply to? Does it apply to all of Hay Creek Road in its entirety or does it apply to each of the developments that feed into Hay Creek Road?’ Bagley explained, “There is a parcel between the northern boundary of their subdivision and Hay Creek Road, therefore staff has determined that it does not front Hay Creek Road.”

Meggan Herington, executive director, Planning and Community Development, said, “The beginning of Chapter 8 [of the Land Development Code] talks about the application of these subdivision design standards being specific to the subdivision itself, and so it’s difficult for us to say we’re going to apply this more globally outside of the subdivision review.”

Commissioner Holly Williams commented, “It does seem to me that it meets the fire district requirements.” Commissioner Carrie Geitner said, “I also appreciate our staff and believe they are the experts in interpreting our code, so I too take what Meggan [Herington] has said with great weight.” Chair Cami Bremer said, “I absolutely believe that this meets the criteria.” VanderWerf commented, “I would like to work with the staff to see if there’s anyway to put a second ingress/egress in and out of that road [Hay Creek Road].”

The vote to approve was 4-0 with Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez Jr. absent.

Old Denver Road rezone to commercial approved

Also at the May 9 BOCC land use meeting, the commissioners unanimously approved a request to rezone an 8.07-acre property at 16050 Old Denver Road from RR-5 (rural residential) to CS (commercial service). The 8.07-acre property is located half a mile north of the intersection of Baptist Road and Old Denver Road. The application was heard as a consent item, meaning there was no discussion.

The application came from the El Paso County Planning Commission meeting on April 18 with a unanimous recommendation for approval. It had been scheduled to be heard as a consent item at that meeting but was heard as a regular item at the request of Commissioner Christopher Whitney who had questions about the interplay of placetype (from the county’s master plan) and zoning. See https://www.ocn.me/v24n5.htm?zoom_highlight=%22old+denver+road%22.

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The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) usually meets every Tuesday at 9 am at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Agendas and meetings can be viewed at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Information is available at 719-520-643. BOCC land use meetings are normally held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1 pm in Centennial Hall.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County articles

El Paso Board of County Commissioners, April 9, 11, and 16 – Wildfire mitigation urged as Black Forest slash and mulch program opens for season

By Helen Walklett

During April, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) made decisions relating to the Black Forest slash and mulch program and a Black Forest rezone application.

Black Forest slash and mulch program

At its April 9 meeting, the BOCC approved the 2024 memorandum of understanding (MOU) with the Black Forest Slash and Mulch Committee (SAMCOM), the nonprofit responsible for the program’s daily operation.

This wildfire mitigation program, staffed entirely by volunteers, accepts slash (tree debris including branches and leaves) from residents that is ground into mulch, which is available free of charge to the public. The program does not accept bulk loads of needles, tree stumps, roots, weeds or grass.

Under the MOU, the county contributes up to $40,000 toward grinder expenses, and SAMCOM provides $12,000 toward the costs.

The site, within Black Forest Section 16 on the east side of Herring Road and just south of Shoup Road, opened for the 2024 season for slash drop-off on April 27. Normal business hours are Saturdays and Sundays 7 a.m.-4 p.m. and Tuesday and Thursday evenings 5-7:30 p.m. Sundays between 7 a.m. and noon are for slash drop-off only. The last date for slash drop-off this year is Sept. 15. The drop-off fee for slash has increased this year to $10 per pickup truck. There is a loyalty card available that offers a discount.

Free mulch will be available for self-loading from May 18 through Sept. 21. For large quantities of mulch, an end loader will be available on Saturdays only, 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., charging $5 per bucket.

Describing the program as wonderful, Commissioner Holly Williams said, “I certainly encourage all of our Black Forest residents, as well as many of our northeastern Colorado Springs residents, to take advantage and to keep wildfire mitigation efforts on your property up to date.”

For more information, visit www.bfslash.org. Anyone wanting to volunteer to work a shift can do so via the website.

Vessey Road rezone

At their April 11 land use meeting, the commissioners voted to approve an application by Pawel Posorski for a rezoning of 6.02 acres from RR-5 (rural residential) to RR-2.5 (rural residential). The property is located at 6225 Vessey Road, one-half mile east of the intersection of Vessey Road and Neva Lane. A final plat application has also been submitted to create two lots from the parcel. This is currently under review and has not yet been scheduled for a public hearing.

The application was heard as a consent item, meaning there was no discussion. The application came from the Planning Commission with an 8-1 vote recommending approval. Commissioners Christopher Whitney was the nay vote, having concerns about the zoning not being consistent with the area and about the non-conformity of lots in the area. See https://www.ocn.me/v24n4.htm?zoom_highlight=%22vessey+road%22.

Ambulance license and permits

At the April 16 meeting, the commissioners approved an ambulance service license and two ambulance permits for the Black Forest Fire Rescue Protection District. At the previous week’s meeting, Commissioner Stan VanderWerf commented on the fact that the state had recently passed a statute that will take away local authorities’ power to issue ambulance permits beginning in July. These will now be issued at the state level. He said, “The law is the law, but this is just another example of centralization of power in Denver that I know in the long run will not be good for the State of Colorado when local governments know best what our local communities need.”

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The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) usually meets every Tuesday at 9 am at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Agendas and meetings can be viewed at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Information is available at 719-520-643. BOCC land use meetings are normally held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1 pm in Centennial Hall.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County articles

El Paso County Planning Commission, April 18 – Old Denver Road property requesting rezone to commercial

By Helen Walklett

At the El Paso County Planning Commission meeting on April 18, the commissioners heard a request to rezone an 8.07-acre property at 16050 Old Denver Road from RR-5 (rural residential) to CS (commercial service). The property is one-half mile north of the intersection of Baptist Road and Old Denver Road. The application was originally scheduled as a consent item, meaning there would be no discussion, but was pulled and heard as a regular item at the request of Commissioner Christopher Whitney, who had questions about the interplay of placetype (from the county’s master plan) and zoning.

Discussion at the hearing focused on the existing duplex on the property, which is not an allowed use by right under the CS zoning and would require a variance of use. Staff has proposed a condition to the zoning approval that would see the duplex remain until it’s vacant for more than a year, is removed, or is repurposed for a use permitted within the CS zoning district when commercial development occurs.

Nina Ruiz, with Vertex Consulting Services and representing the owner, All In Investments LLC, said, “If they [the owner] were to develop this property as warehousing, mini-warehousing and outside storage, those types of uses, it’s very possible that they could convert a portion of the structure into an office because they would need an office, and then the other portion could remain a caretaker’s quarters. That would be included within the site development plan.”

There was no public comment. The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend the application for approval, and it is now due to be heard at the El Paso Board of County Commissioners land use meeting on May 9.

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The El Paso County Planning Commission normally meets the first and (as required) the third Thursday of each month at the Regional Development Center, 2880 International Circle, Colo. Springs. Meetings are live-streamed on the El Paso County News and Information Channel at https://www.elpasoco.com/news-information-channel. Information is available at 719-520-6300 and https://planningdevelopment.elpasoco.com/planning-community-development/2024-hearings-schedule/.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County articles

El Paso County Planning Commission, March 7 and 21 – Highway 83 access plan approved

By Helen Walklett

At the March 7 El Paso County Planning Commission meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve the Highway 83 Access Control Plan (ACP) and incorporate it into the county’s master plan. The commissioners also heard three land development requests for the Tri-Lakes area during March.

Highway 83 access plan

The ACP covers the stretch of Highway 83 from its junction with Powers Boulevard to County Line Road, a length of almost 10 miles. It is a long-range plan for 2045 and beyond aimed at improving safety and mobility. The county’s Department of Public Works, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the City of Colorado Springs worked together to develop the plan. CDOT led the work because it owns and maintains the corridor.

The Planning Commission previously received a presentation of the proposed plan at its Dec. 7 meeting. See www.ocn.me/v24n1.htm#wpcpc.

Arthur Gonzalez of CDOT told the commissioners that the only change since the December presentation had been the inclusion of an access based on an agreement between CDOT and an individual which had been omitted from the initial proposed plan. There are around 70 individual access points along this part of Highway 83 and most allow full movement, meaning there are no turn restrictions.

Future traffic volumes along this portion of the highway are expected to increase in the range of 17% to 86% by 2045. Without changes, this increase is expected to result in increased delays, congestion, pollution, and crashes. The plan is also intended to be a tool to help the county, the city, and CDOT make access decisions during development and redevelopment, and will streamline the access permitting process.

It was again stressed that the plan itself does not identify specific projects. Changes would only come if a problem with traffic flow or safety came to light, properties were developed or redeveloped along the corridor, or state or federal funding for a roadway project comes forward (none has been identified at present).

The plan was developed with public input, and Gonzalez said it addresses concerns raised by stakeholders. These include speeding, noise and number of large trucks, traffic volume overall, lack of turn lanes, safety around the newly constructed Stagecoach Road intersection, sight distance through curves, and a need for more traffic signals.

Speaking specifically to the new Stagecoach Road intersection, Jason Nelson of CDOT said he attended a meeting with some 200 residents facilitated by the HOA on the west side of the highway. The developer of Flying Horse North had made improvements on the east side, but it was clear that further improvements to the junction are needed. He said a task force with a consultant on board has been established and CDOT is looking for a location for a public open house. He said, “We have no funding to construct anything but at least we are back engaging and seeing what we can do.”

Following the commission’s approval, the intergovernmental agreement among the three partners will now go to the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) for signing.

Proposed Black Forest subdivision

Also at the March 7 meeting, the commissioners heard a request by the Jon Didleaux and Phyllis Didleau Revocable Trust for approval of a 32.168-acre minor subdivision to create four single-family lots and two tracts. The property is zoned RR-5 (residential rural) and is located at 8250 Forest Heights Circle east of Herring Road and north of Shoup Road. The proposed subdivision would be known as Forest Heights Estates.

In conformity with the zoning, all four proposed lots will be a minimum of 5 acres. Two are proposed to be larger at 7.6 acres and 12.10 acres and these would be located on the property’s south side near neighboring larger properties. The two smaller lots would be located adjacent to smaller lots to the property’s north and west.

Access to the lots is proposed to be via the existing private gravel road, Forest Heights Circle, which extends east from Herring Road and serves six existing family homes. The applicant’s letter of intent states that improvements would be made to this to enhance its accessibility.

The request was scheduled to be heard as a consent item but was elevated to a full hearing due to public interest. Four citizens spoke in opposition focusing on trail access, dedication of land for trail easements, the requested waivers pertaining to allowing a private rather than public road and not establishing an HOA, and the maintenance agreement for the private road. The commissioners stated that they felt the concerns were either not directly relevant to the review criteria or were not legally enforceable.

Speaking during the public comment section, Larry Fariss, a neighbor and previous long-term chair of the Black Forest Trails Association, described the property as a linchpin for the area’s trail system.

Chair Thomas Bailey commented, “There’s nothing that compels a property owner to grant an easement.” Dave Gorman, with M.V.E. Inc. and representing the applicant, said the family was not comfortable with having a public trail on their mother’s property.

The vote to recommend for approval was unanimous and the application was then heard at the BOCC land use meeting on March 28. See BOCC article on page 4.

Gleneagle minor subdivision

The commissioners voted unanimously on March 7 to recommend for approval a request by Aaron Atwood for a 5.04-acre minor subdivision to be known as Pair-A-Dise to create two single-family lots. The property is zoned RR-2.5 and is located on Struthers Loop, south of the junction of West Baptist Road and Leather Chaps Road. The site is currently vacant. The proposed lots would each slightly exceed 2.5 acres.

The application was heard as a consent item, meaning there was no discussion. It was then considered at the BOCC land use meeting on March 28. See BOCC article on page 4.

Vessey Road rezone

At their March 21 meeting, the commissioners voted to recommend for approval an application by Pawel Posorski for a rezoning of 6.02 acres from RR-5 (rural residential) to RR-2.5 (rural residential). The property is located at 6225 Vessey Road, a half-mile east of the intersection of Vessey Road and Neva Lane. A final plat application has also been submitted to create two lots from the parcel. This is under review and has not yet been scheduled for a public hearing.

The application was heard as a consent item. Commissioner Christopher Whitney asked why the county’s report to the commission stated that the property was surrounded by “smaller lots, some 2.5 acres in size” when one of the included maps showed RR-5 zoning around it. Ashlyn Mathy, planner II, Planning and Community Development Department, explained that some lots were created before zoning was put in place and therefore do not meet the lot size set by the zoning. She added that there is RR-2.5 zoning east and west of the property. Bailey said, “I think this is an issue we see often, especially in this area. A lot of legal non-conforming lots. Perfectly legitimate but the zoning is different.” Whitney said, “I can’t say I’m happy, but I understand the answer.”

The vote to recommend the application for approval was 8-1. Whitney was the nay vote. He said, “The zoning should mean something, otherwise why put a number on it? Just call it large-lot residential and whatever it is, it is.” Offering an alternative view, Bailey asked, “I wonder though if the decision to zone this area RR-5 back when it was done, despite the fact that there were several 2.5-acre lots in that area, whether that was the right decision or not?”

It is now scheduled to be heard at the BOCC land use meeting on April 11.

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The El Paso County Planning Commission normally meets the first and (as required) the third Thursday of each month at the Regional Development Center, 2880 International Circle, Colo. Springs. Meetings are live-streamed on the El Paso County News and Information Channel at https://www.elpasoco.com/news-information-channel. Information is available at 719-520-6300 and https://planningdevelopment.elpasoco.com/planning-community-development/2024-hearings-schedule/.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Planning Commission articles

El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, March 28 – Minor subdivisions in Black Forest and Gleneagle approved

By Helen Walklett

In March, the El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) considered minor subdivision requests for properties in Black Forest and Gleneagle.

Forest Heights Estates

At their March 28 land use meeting, the commissioners heard a request by the Jon Didleaux and Phyllis Didleau Revocable Trust for approval of a 32.168-acre minor subdivision to create four single-family lots and two tracts. The property is zoned RR-5 (residential rural) and is located at 8250 Forest Heights Circle east of Herring Road and north of Shoup Road. The subdivision will be known as Forest Heights Estates.

The application came to the BOCC with a unanimous recommendation for approval from the March 7 El Paso County Planning Commission meeting. At that meeting, four citizens spoke in opposition, focusing on trail access, dedication of land for trail easements, the requested waivers (pertaining to allowing a private rather than public road and not establishing an HOA), and the maintenance agreement for the private road. The commissioners at that meeting felt the concerns were either not directly relevant to the review criteria or were not legally enforceable.

In conformity with the zoning, all four proposed lots will be a minimum of 5 acres. Two are proposed to be larger at 7.6 acres and 12.10 acres and these will be located on the property’s south side near neighboring larger properties. The two smaller lots will be located adjacent to smaller lots to the property’s north and west. Access to the lots is proposed via the existing private gravel road, Forest Heights Circle, which extends east from Herring Road and serves six existing family homes. The applicant will be responsible for improving the road and the cul-de-sac at its end. The maintenance of the road will be undertaken by the residents under a formal agreement, although the commissioners heard that not all the neighbors have signed this.

At the BOCC meeting, Ryan Howser, planner III, Planning and Community Development, said that since the Planning Commission hearing the applicant has proposed to work with the community to provide the requested trail easements. This would include a northern easement for a trail along the northern edge of lot 1, which would enable a connection to Meadow Glen Lane. The gesture was described by Commissioner Carrie Geitner as “quite generous.”

Judy von Ahlefeldt, an adjacent neighbor, spoke in opposition during the public comment section of the hearing to suggest an alternative to the planned cul-de-sac. This would see it built in a different location which she said would provide better protection for the wetlands. She described it as a practical, economic, conservation solution and said, “I am offering to purchase the end of Forest Heights Circle and have two shared private driveways. I will pay for survey costs. I will pay for maintaining this end of the road.”

In rebuttal Dave Gorman, with M.V.E. Inc. and representing the applicant, said the proposed roadway was designed to closely meet county standards and the cul-de-sac is required in the standards and was intended to promote safety. Applicant Jon Didleaux said, “Judy suggested that we move that cul-de-sac but that takes up two areas. It cuts into both 5-acre parcels that we’re trying to subdivide, and we were trying to avoid that just to make it a regular 5-acre parcel for the future owner without having to put a cul-de-sac in each person’s lot.”

Seeking clarification, Commissioner Stan VanderWerf said, “There were some statements made by Ms. von Ahlefeldt today offering an alternate proposal and offering to help fund that alternate proposal. Has there been a formal offer from her to your clients about that and, if so, has that been rejected by your clients?” The answer from Gorman was no. VanderWerf then continued, “Under the conditions that this might go forward and be voted on and approved, I just was interested in knowing, I would presume those discussions could continue should an offer be made and the applicant consider it?” Staff advised that this would be the case and it would be a matter for Ms. von Ahlefeldt and the applicant to work out between themselves.

The vote to approve was unanimous.

Gleneagle minor subdivision

Also at the March 28 land use meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve a request by Aaron Atwood for a 5.04-acre minor subdivision to be known as Pair-A-Dise to create two single-family lots. The property is zoned RR-2.5 and is located on Struthers Loop, south of the junction of West Baptist Road and Leather Chaps Road. The site is currently vacant. The proposed lots will each slightly exceed 2.5 acres. The application was heard as a consent item, meaning there was no discussion.

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The El Paso County Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) usually meets every Tuesday at 9 am at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Suite 150, Colo. Springs. Agendas and meetings can be viewed at www.agendasuite.org/iip/elpaso. Information is available at 719-520-643. BOCC land use meetings are normally held the second and fourth Thursdays of the month (as needed) at 1 pm in Centennial Hall.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me

Other El Paso County Board of County Commissioners articles

El Paso Board of County Commissioners, Jan. 30 and Feb. 22 – Palmer Lake annexation impact report received

By Helen Walklett

During February, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) considered an annexation impact report for land west of the Town of Palmer Lake. The commissioners also heard concerns about safety on Vollmer Road near the School in the Woods site at the end of January.

Palmer Lake annexation

The proposed Ben Lomand Mountain Village annexation into the Town of Palmer Lake was back on the agenda at the Feb. 22 BOCC land use meeting ahead of it being discussed that evening at the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees meeting. See the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees meeting article on page < 7 >.

Kylie Bagley, planner III, Planning and Community Development Department, said the annexation impact report contained more information on the annexation’s potential impacts than was available when the BOCC first discussed it at its Jan. 23 meeting.

The annexation request is being made by landowner United Congregational Church and concerns 181.5 acres of RR-5-zoned land south of County Line Road, west of Indi Drive, north of the Lakeview Heights subdivision, and east of Oakdale Drive.

The applicant intends to develop the site, along with an additional 163 acres already within Palmer Lake, and rezone the land to the RE Estate Zone, which allows single-family dwellings on a minimum lot size of 2.5 acres. The total development on the combined property is not expected to exceed 80 lots. The steep topography of parts of the property being considered for annexation as well as the necessary land dedications and rights-of-way for roads and utilities mean that a large portion of the property is anticipated to remain undeveloped. It is estimated that 104 of the 181.5 acres is buildable and, given the minimum lot size of 2.5 acres, this would result in about 41 lots on that portion.

All existing structures, including the existing church and youth center, would remain. The applicant intends to use the buildable remainder of the combined property for churches and other religious facilities. Public trail easements and recreational access may also be considered as part of any future development.

The report states that the town’s police and fire services and the school district are believed to be more than adequate to provide services to the proposed development. The applicant will need to submit a drainage report and a traffic impact study as the project progresses.

Commissioner Carrie Geitner asked if there were any remaining concerns that might be potential problems for county and should be relayed to the Town of Palmer Lake. Bagley answered that there were none at this time.

Commissioner Holly Williams asked if Palmer Lake would be taking over responsibility for County Line Road. Meggan Herington, executive director, Planning and Community Development, said it would be standard for the town to take on the portion adjacent to the development and that discussions about other segments would need to be ongoing as the development progressed. She also clarified that the county and the Colorado Department of Transportation would receive detailed documentation for review and comment as any development moved forward.

The BOCC cannot approve or deny an annexation impact report; the report serves to notify it of the annexation request and sets out potential impacts in general terms, allowing the BOCC to give direction to staff. Therefore, the commissioners accepted the report, but no vote was taken.

Vollmer Road safety concerns

During the public comments part of the Jan. 30 BOCC meeting, two residents raised concerns about safety and speeding on Vollmer Road, adjacent to the School in the Woods site. Dick Hegeman, a resident of Hardin Road opposite the school site, said traffic had increased exponentially over the years. He spoke of speeding and cars parked on both sides of Vollmer and along Hardin during busy times such as school choice night when prospective parents and pupils visit. He said, “Something’s got to be done because somebody is going to get hurt. Why can’t we be proactive instead of reactive.”

Vollmer Road resident Maggie Mae Stone stated, “I’ve been trying on the same subject for nearly 2 1/2 years to find out when somebody is going to give a damn about the kids at the School in the Woods and put up speed limit signs.”

Although it is a designated school zone, limited to 25 mph, this cannot be enforced because there are no signs. Stone told the commissioners that she and her husband had offered to pay for two signs, but no one had acted interested in any way. She said she had been told by three Sheriff’s Deputies on three separate occasions that nothing would change until someone died.

Chair Cami Bremer asked Josh Palmer, county engineer, to follow up directly with the two citizens to explain the measures taken and those planned, which include the installation of dual turn lanes over the summer when the school is closed.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso Board of County Commissioners articles

El Paso County Planning Commission, Feb. 1 – Positive feedback from county commissioners

By Helen Walklett

At the Feb. 1 El Paso County Planning Commission meeting, Chair Tom Bailey reported that he and Commissioner Jay Carlson had met with County Commissioners Stan VanderWerf and Cammie Bremer to work toward a meeting between the full Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) and the Planning Commission.

Bailey said, “They’re very happy with what we’re giving them, so thank you all for that. Your participation in these discussions, in these deliberations, the questions that you ask, the points that we get onto the record gives the [county] commissioners a very solid foundation to make their final decision.”

Carlson said the commissioners had commented, “We want you guys to function independently. We’re not looking for you to think ‘What would the Board of County Commissioners do or think.’ He added, “The other thing that both commissioners mentioned in our conversations with them is that they do read all our minutes and that they really pay attention to the dissenting votes, if there are any, and see if there’s something they might have missed in their look at things. So, it’s important to get our thoughts on the record.”

It is hoped that the meeting between the BOCC and the Planning Commission will take place in the next several weeks. Members of the public can comment on any application on the agenda at a Planning Commission hearing and can also raise a matter not on the agenda at the start of a meeting.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me

Other El Paso County Planning Commission articles

El Paso County Board of County Commissioners, Jan. 9, 23, 25 – Palmer Lake annexation discussed

By Helen Walklett

During January, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) considered an annexation notification from the Town of Palmer Lake. The commissioners also adopted the 2024 budget and reappointed their chair and vice chair for a second year.

Ben Lomand Mountain Village annexation

Notification of an annexation request from the Town of Palmer Lake was received by the commissioners at their Jan. 23 meeting. The BOCC cannot approve or deny an annexation report; it serves to notify it of the annexation request and sets out potential impacts in general terms.

The Ben Lomand Mountain Village annexation concerns 181.5 acres of RR-5-zoned land south of County Line Road, west of Indi Drive, north of the Lakeview Heights subdivision, and east of Oakdale Drive. The request to annex the land into the town is being made by the United Congregational Church and was scheduled to be heard at the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees meeting on Jan. 25. Meggan Herington, executive director, Planning and Community Development, told the commissioners that she expected the request to be continued to a later date after an hour of testimony as required by statute. See the Palmer Lake Board of Trustees meeting article at left.

The applicants intend to develop the proposed 181.5 acres along with an additional 163 acres within Palmer Lake and rezone the land to the RE Estate Zone, which allows single-family dwellings on a minimum lot size of 2.5 acres. All existing structures, including the church and youth center, would remain. The county thought the development might number 80 or so houses.

The commissioners heard that the town had not yet provided a full Annexation Impact Report and had initially requested a waiver for this from the BOCC but had later said the information would be provided. The commissioners voted unanimously to decline the waiver, meaning the matter will return to the BOCC at a later date in the interest of full transparency. The commissioners noted that the application was a major matter for Palmer Lake and directed county staff to continue to work with the town on it. Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez said his first feedback would be that he would like to see the town accept the maintenance of certain county roads and maintain access to Ben Lomand Mountain.

The matter is ongoing.

2024 budget adopted

At the Jan. 9 meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to adopt and appropriate the $491.6 million 2024 budget. Its adoption normally takes place in December, but it was postponed due to the special legislative session that took place at the state assembly.

Commissioner Gonzalez said, “I think this budget really addresses the needs of the community and [is] a great prioritization of public safety, roads.” Commissioner Stan VanderWerf said, “I appreciate calling it the recession-proof budget because we’re not 100% sure where 2024 is going to go and we have held reserve dollars in this budget in case we have an economic downturn.”

The commissioners went on to certify the 2023 mill levy for property taxes payable in 2024. Nikki Simmons, chief financial officer, said the mill levy of 7.192 mills was significantly lower than the overall authorized mill levy of 8.46 mills due to the TABOR cap. It represents an almost 17% reduction in the county’s portion of property tax bills.

Commissioner Carrie Geitner commented, “TABOR is the hero here. I’m happy for us to pass this but I would never want to lose sight of the fact that when the entire state was scrambling and trying to figure out what to do about these increases, regardless there was always a plan in El Paso County for the El Paso-specific taxes and that’s because TABOR always does its job of limiting government growth in this situation.”

Chair and vice chair reappointed

Also at the Jan. 9 BOCC meeting, the commissioners voted 4-1 to reappoint Commissioner Cami Bremer as chair and Commissioner Carrie Geitner as vice chair. Commissioner Gonzalez, who had put himself forward as a candidate for the position of chair, was the nay vote.

Hill subdivision approved

At the Jan. 25 BOCC land use meeting, the commissioners approved an application to subdivide a Black Forest property into three residential lots. The application came to the BOCC with a recommendation for approval from the Planning Commission. See the El Paso County Planning Commission article below.

Other decisions

Jan. 9—the commissioners approved the issuance of an ambulance permit to Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District dba Monument Fire District. The six-month permit runs until June 1, 2024.

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The BOCC meets weekly, and the next meeting will be at 9 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 6. The commissioners will also meet on Feb. 8 and 22 at 9 a.m. to consider land use items.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) articles

El Paso County Planning Commission, Jan. 4 and 18 – Black Forest subdivision recommended for approval

By Helen Walklett

The El Paso County Planning Commission (EPCPC) met twice during January and considered a minor subdivision application for a Black Forest property.

Hill minor subdivision

At the first EPCPC meeting of the year, the commissioners voted unanimously to recommend for approval a subdivision request for a Black Forest property.

The application by Douglas and Katherine Hill would see the 14.69-acre property, east of Black Forest Road and south of Hodgen Road, subdivided into three residential lots. All three lots would have access to Black Forest Road via the existing driveway which would be re-dedicated as a private road named Alpaca Heights. Because Black Forest Road is classified as a section line road, properties with frontage onto it are permitted to have a minimum lot size of 4.75 acres. The property currently has a residential home, garage, and horse stable on it, and these would remain on the proposed lot 1.

The request was heard as a consent item, meaning there was no discussion, and was then heard at the El Paso Board of County Commissioners land use meeting on Jan. 25. See BOCC article on page < 1 >.

Highway 83 access plan

The commissioners were scheduled to adopt the Highway 83 Access Control Plan at the Jan. 18 meeting. However, this was moved to the March 7 meeting at the request of staff. Details of the plan were presented to staff at the Dec. 7 meeting. See www.ocn.me/v24n1.htm?zoom_highlight=acp)

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Planning Commission (EPCPC) articles

El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority, Jan. 18 – Consultants address financing, CSU facilities, easements

By James Howald

At its January meeting, the El Paso County Regional Loop Water Authority (EPCRLWA, or the Loop) board heard progress reports from two consultants. The board also held an executive session.

Consultants address financing, easements

John Kuosman updated the board on his discussions with engineering companies and Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU).

Kuosman, a water practice leader with Merrick and Co. who also serves as the Loop Water Authority’s project planning and workflow manager, said he had received feedback from several engineering companies on projects they had worked on that were relevant to the Loop’s water reuse design. He used that feedback to determine the cost drivers that the Loop should build into its financial analysis. These cost drivers were used by Piper Sandler, the Loop’s underwriter, to develop financing scenarios that will be voted on by the authority’s participating water districts.

Kuosman said the Town of Monument is driving the Loop’s work to develop a financial model for the project, because the town needs to make a final decision whether it will remain a participant in the Loop or become a participant in the Northern Delivery System, a water reuse project that is managed by the Triview Metropolitan District. Kuosman said he had scheduled a presentation to the town at its executive session on Jan. 30.

Kuosman also reported to the board on his discussions with CSU. The Loop initially assumed that it would be responsible for construction of all infrastructure required to process and convey water to its customers, but as the project moved forward CSU became open to the possibility of the Loop using CSU’s Edward Bailey Water Treatment Plant (EBWTP), which has unused capacity. Using EBWTP would save the Loop the cost of building its own treatment facility. The potential use of EBWTP by the Loop to process water from the Chilcott Ditch raises the issue of treatment upgrades that might be required at EBWTP, Kuosman said, adding that CSU is funding a study to make this determination. Kuosman said he would review the water quality data the authority has collected and facilitate a meeting with CSU.

Rebecca Hutchinson, also with Merrick and Co., told the board she was investigating the easements that would be required to convey the water treated at the EBWTP, which is located at 977 Marksheffel Rd., to the east of Colorado Springs, to the Loop’s customers in northern El Paso County. Hutchinson said she is working with two companies that specialize in easement investigations: Kimley Horn and Western States Land Services LLC.

Executive session

The meeting ended with an executive session to receive information from consultants regarding water sources. The executive session was attended by board members from the participating water districts.

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The next regular meeting is scheduled for Feb. 15 at 9 a.m. Regular meetings are usually held on the third Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. at the Monument Town Hall at 645 Beacon Lite Road. Workshop meetings are held the first Thursday of each month at 9 a.m. at the Cherokee Metropolitan District offices at 6250 Palmer Park Blvd., Colorado Springs. Please see loopwater.org or call 719-488-3603 to verify meeting times and locations.

James Howald can be reached at jameshowald@ocn.me.

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Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Associations (NEPCO), Jan. 20 – Group hears from law enforcement officials

By Marlene Brown

The Northern El Paso County Coalition of Community Associations (NEPCO) held its bi-monthly meeting on Jan. 20. NEPCO’s purpose is to serve and be an area-wide point of contact for interaction with local government and agencies regarding land use matters that impact member associations and their residents. NEPCO’s area of interest is bordered on the north by the county line, on the east by Meridian Road, on the south along Northgate Boulevard to Highway 83, and west along the ridgeline of the Front Range.

NEPCO has over 50 members of homeowner associations (HOAs), which represents over 10,000 homes and over 20,000 registered voters. Cherry Creek Crossing is the newest member HOA to join NEPCO.

Board President Mike Aspenson announced that the Land Use Committee chair is open. Current Committee Chair Bob Mooney is retiring but is available for training anyone that is a member of an HOA. They will be able to run and update the spreadsheets and files that coordinate with the county Planning Commission using EDARP (epcdevplanreview.com), which is a database of current land development projects in the county that is available to the public and the Monument Planning Commission. For more information, interested parties should email president@nepco.org. No experience needed.

Beth Lonnquist, chairman of the Wildfire Preparedness Committee, Red Rocks Ranch Home Owners Association, explained that January is the time to begin planning wildfire mitigation. Contact the Tri-Lakes Monument Fire Protection District dba Monument Fire District (MFD) for a chipping date. The chipping is free for HOAs. MFD will send two firefighters and chipper truck. They will man the truck, and the homeowners need 10-12 volunteers to get small trees and brush ready for the chipping day and to feed the chipper. To sign up your HOA for chipping day, go to www.monumentfire.org.

Wildfire Neighborhood Ambassador training class is coming Feb. 21-March 27 online. This year’s six modules will be presented by Fire Adapted Colorado for free to residents of neighborhoods that already have established slash chipping programs and want to build more depth in their Firewise volunteer group. For information, call Lisa Hatfield 719-339-7831 before Feb. 14.

Guest speakers—law enforcement

Undersheriff Jeff Kramer spoke on behalf of the county (EPC) Sheriff’s Office. It is the largest sheriff’s office in the state, with 542 sworn personnel and 336 professional staff. EPC is the most populous county in Colorado. The office also runs the EPC Jail, which is like a small city. As of Jan. 20, there were 1,100 inmates in the jail. On any given day there are 100-200 inmates that must be transported to court in downtown Colorado Springs. The officers have mental health and crisis intervention training. There are 11 school resource officers working for the office that are contracted and are placed in county schools.

County areas are divided into districts. Northern District 1 is Woodmoor, Gleneagle, Monument and Palmer Lake. District 2 is Black Forest and eastward. District 1 has 11,200 houses with goals of call response times of 15 minutes for one car and 20 minutes for two cars depending on the call priority. Black Forest has a 20-minute response time and Falcon 20-25 minutes.

The Town of Monument’s new police chief as of May 9, Patrick Regan, is working to hire five more officers. The officers would include two to be hired this year, two more would be school officers and one would be a detective. Plus, more are needed as supervisors. Regan has over 23 years in leadership and training positions. He moved here from Arizona and mentioned the crime rate is very low in the Tri-Lakes area compared to what he is used to.

Woodmoor Chief of Police Kevin Nielsen spoke next. Woodmoor has eight sworn officers. They work in collaboration with Monument and Palmer Lake police and the Sheriff’s Office. They have a Missing Persons Officer, Kelly Fisher, and two resource officers at Monument Academy. Most of their calls are criminal trespass and vehicle break-ins, smash and grab, porch pirates, and mail theft. Nielsen said to be sure to lock up your cars and if there was no mail in your box you might be a victim of theft.

Be sure to sign up for Peak Alerts, and in event of an emergency messages can be sent via text, phone, email, or mobile app. See https://elpasoteller911.org/246/Peak-Alerts.

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NEPCO meets every other month, and the next meeting is scheduled for March 9, 10 a.m.-noon at the Woodmoor Barn, 1691 Woodmoor Dr., Monument. For more information regarding membership and future meetings, go to www.nepco.org

Marlene Brown can be reached at marlenebrown@ocn.me.

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El Paso County Planning Commission, Dec. 7 – Access plan for Hwy 83 addresses safety

By Helen Walklett

At the Dec. 7 El Paso County Planning Commission meeting, the commissioners received a presentation of the proposed Access Control Plan (ACP) for the stretch of Highway 83 from its junction with Powers Boulevard to County Line Road, a length of almost 10 miles.

The county’s Department of Public Works, the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) and the City of Colorado Springs have worked together to develop the plan. CDOT led the work because it owns and maintains the corridor.

Future traffic volumes along this portion of highway are expected to increase in the range of 17% to 86% by 2045. Without changes, this increase is expected to result in increased delays, congestion, pollution, and crashes. The ACP is a long-range plan aimed at improving safety and mobility.

Arthur Gonzalez, CDOT, explained that the plan optimizes the location, number, and types of access to the highway to improve safety by reducing the number of locations where all types of road users might come into conflict. It provides adequate access for adjacent properties while better using the local road system. It is also a tool to help the county, the city, and CDOT make access decisions during development and redevelopment, and streamlines the access permitting process.

Gonzalez said there are currently 72 individual access points along this section of highway. Thirty percent are public streets and 70% are private driveways and most allow for full movement, meaning there are no turn restrictions, allowing potentially dangerous situations to arise. Some access points could be closed or consolidated under the plan, but no changes are currently planned.

The plan was developed with public input, and Gonzalez said it addresses concerns raised by stakeholders. These include speeding, noise, and number of large trucks, lack of turn lanes, safety around the Stagecoach Road intersection, and a need for more traffic signals. Although the plan does not address speed limits, Jason Nelson, CDOT, said that to address excessive speeding instead of just committing to signalizing intersections, CDOT was committing to roundabouts.

Nelson said, “There’s a lot of benefits to installing roundabouts on 83. It’s a residential corridor. Commercial is starting to get sprinkled in there but we’re hoping to get ahead of that and maintain that residential feel so a bunch of roundabouts I think will divert truck drivers, I really do.” Nelson said a roundabout at the intersection Highway 83 and County Line Road had been designed but there was currently no funding earmarked for such a project.

The plan itself does not identify specific projects. Changes would come only if a problem with traffic flow or safety came to light, properties were developed or redeveloped along the corridor, or state or federal funding for a roadway project comes forward (none has been identified at present).

This session was for informational purposes only. A request to adopt the ACP and incorporate it into the county’s master plan will come at a second session during the Jan. 18 Planning Commission meeting.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

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El Paso Board of County Commissioners, Nov. 7, 9, and 14 – Final budget direction increases funding to roads and parks

By Helen Walklett

During November, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) gave final direction on the 2024 county budget, received an update on the work of Tri-Lakes Cares and Crossfire Ministries, and approved a minor subdivision in Black Forest.

Final focus on 2024 budget

At the Nov. 14 meeting, the commissioners gave their final direction on the 2024 budget, reallocating funds to roads, parks and to challenging unfunded mandates.

The commissioners redistributed $2.49 million, the majority of which came from funds allocated to a major stormwater project that is now to be financed by federal grants. They earmarked an additional $2 million to one-time road funds, $150,000 to stormwater projects, $140,000 to park projects, and $200,000 to challenging unfunded mandates that might come from state or federal government.

Chair Cami Bremer described it as “a beautifully balanced budget that aligns with our priorities and allows us to get the things done that we need to get done.”

The preliminary budget and all supporting documents can be viewed on the county website at: admin.elpasoco.com/financial-services/budget-finance/county-budget/. Paper copies are also available for inspection in the commissioners’ office at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs 80903.

The final budget vote is scheduled to be held at the BOCC meeting on Dec. 5.

Tri-Lakes Cares/Crossfire Ministries update

At the Nov. 14 meeting, Tri-Lakes Cares (TLC) and Crossfire Ministries updated the commissioners on work the two nonprofits are doing with funding from various sources, including the $20,000 grant money jointly received from the BOCC under the Community Investment Program (CIP). Haley Chapin, TLC executive director, said that between the two organizations, they serve the whole county.

TLC helped 1,595 individuals in 853 households with food distribution, housing assistance, utilities assistance, transportation help, or medical assistance in 2022-23, Chapin said. Renee Beebe, executive director, Crossfire Ministries, said her organization is serving a lot of families that are finding themselves on the verge of not being able to make ends meet. She said the funding had been able to provide a number of families with utility assistance specifically, which is a growing area of need. In the first nine months of the year, Crossfire’s no-cost grocery store was accessed over 40,000 times.

Commenting on the increase in need during and since the pandemic, Chapin said, “While the rest of us have gone back to work and finished the remainder of the impacts of the pandemic, our community members that Crossfire and Tri-Lakes Cares serves are the first to be impacted by any economic downturn and they are the last to recover, and so we are still dealing with that downturn of the economy and the struggle that community members face.”

The partners are applying for CIP funding for next year. See tri-lakescares.org, and www.crossfireministries.org.

Approval for Black Forest four-lot subdivision

At the Nov. 9 BOCC meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to approve rezone and minor subdivision applications to create a four-lot subdivision, Fairytale Acres, at a Herring Road property. The request was to rezone 7.59 acres of the 14.54-acre property from RR-5 (rural residential) to RR-2.5 (rural residential).

The subdivision request includes two waivers, one to allow a private roadway instead of a public road, and the other to exempt the property from having to provide a fire cistern. The applications were heard at the Oct. 19 El Paso County Planning Commission meeting where discussion mainly focused on the waivers. The Planning Commission voted unanimously to recommend the applications for approval. See www.ocn.me/v23n11.htm#epcpc.

The BOCC heard the applications as consent items, meaning there was no discussion, and voted 4-0 to approve. Commissioner Stan VanderWerf was absent.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

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El Paso Board of County Commissioners, Oct. 3, 12, 19, and 24 – County presents its 2024 preliminary balanced budget, approves 21-home development

By Helen Walklett

During October, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) heard proposals for the 2024 county budget. The commissioners also approved a plan for a 21 single-family subdivision south of the Forest Lakes development.

2024 preliminary balanced budget

The county Financial Services Department presented the preliminary balanced budget at the Oct. 3 BOCC meeting. The approximate $482.9 million budget includes $217 million in unrestricted general fund expenditures and prioritizes investments in road infrastructure and public safety. Roads and Bridges is assigned a one-time $10 million funding increase to address high-priority projects in addition to the base budget of $28 million, and public safety is allocated $97 million, 45% of the total unrestricted general fund. The budget includes a 2.5% cost-of-living pay increase for county employees.

As the county’s revenues exceeded the TABOR cap this year, residents will see a refund of $138 per property via their property tax bill in 2024.

Nikki Simmons, chief financial officer, said: “One of the highest priorities for this budget was to ensure we have a recession-resistant budget.” Commenting on the 22% of revenue earmarked for reserves, Chair Cami Bremer said, “I am incredibly comfortable with that given the number of unknowns we have, and I think we continue to do a great job of conservative budgeting here.”

As part of the budget-setting process, county departments and offices presented their critical needs to the commissioners at the Oct. 19 and 24 meetings. A further budget hearing is scheduled for Nov. 14 when the BOCC will give final direction on budget allocations.

The public is encouraged to participate in the budget-setting process. The preliminary budget and all supporting documents can be viewed on the county website at: https://admin.elpasoco.com/financial-services/budget-finance/county-budget/. Paper copies are also available for inspection in the commissioners’ office at Centennial Hall, 200 S. Cascade Ave., Colorado Springs.

The final budget vote is scheduled to be held at the BOCC meeting on Dec. 5. However, if ballot initiative HH passes, the valuation of properties in the county could change, and budget adoption will not be possible until the first week of January 2024.

Hay Creek 21-home subdivision

At the Oct. 12 BOCC land use meeting, the commissioners approved an application for a preliminary plan for 20 single-family lots to be known as the Hay Creek Valley subdivision. The one residence currently on the property will remain, making a total of 21 lots. The application came to the BOCC from the Sept. 21 El Paso County Planning Commission meeting with a unanimous recommendation for approval.

The 214.62-acre property is zoned RR-5 (residential rural) and located west of Interstate 25, directly north of the U.S. Air Force Academy (USAFA), south of the Forest Lakes subdivision, and southwest of Monument. Lots are planned to range from 5.5 to 17 acres. The USAFA has reviewed the plan and stated that an avigation easement (giving the right of overflights in the airspace above or in the vicinity of the property) needs to be recorded with the final plat.

The property is currently gated and will continue to be once it is developed. Access is off Hay Creek Road. Jason Alwine, Matrix Design Group Inc. and representing the owner, said the county is requiring the developer to straighten the junction of the property’s private road and Hay Creek Road to provide better line of sight. Trees will be removed as part of the improvements.

Twenty-one neighbors were notified ahead of the public hearings. Justin Kilgore, planning manager, Planning and Community Development, said that concerns had been raised about the potential impacts on wildlife and traffic at the Planning Commission hearing. No one spoke against the application at the BOCC hearing. One neighbor spoke in support, stating, “As neighbors we would love to have as much open space as possible, but I do think development is inevitable and I think the developer has been very responsible in trying to keep the development” in keeping with the rest of the development in the valley.

Regarding wildlife, Alwine said Colorado Parks and Wildlife had recommended prairie dog and burrowing owl surveys that had shown no evidence of either creature. He said that raptor nesting on the property meant the developer would be limited when construction and wildfire mitigation could take place and they would work with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to establish those timeframes. No high fencing was being proposed, and bear-proof containers and inside storage would be used to help eliminate some of the human/wildlife interaction. The extent of wildfire mitigation work would depend on where on the lots houses are built and the developer would work with county staff and the Fire Department on this throughout the construction process.

The vote to approve was unanimous.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

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El Paso County Planning Commission, Oct. 19 – Black Forest four-lot subdivision recommended for approval

By Helen Walklett

At the Oct. 19 El Paso County Planning Commission meeting, the commissioners voted unanimously to recommend for approval rezone and minor subdivision applications to create a four-lot subdivision, Fairytale Acres, at a Herring Road property. The request is to rezone 7.59 acres of the 14.54-acre property from RR-5 (rural residential) to RR-2.5 (rural residential).

The subdivision request includes two waivers, one to allow a private roadway instead of a public road, and the other to exempt the property from having to provide a fire cistern. Discussion at the hearing centered on the latter with Ryan Howser, planner III, Planning and Community Development, explaining that although the code states a fire cistern is required where fire hydrants are not present, a 2013 Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) resolution states that subdivisions of four or fewer lots are exempt from International Fire Code (IFC) coverage, which is the model code on which the county’s fire requirements are based.

Howser said, “I do think that the waiver is still warranted because our code requires it. However, I could interpret that as a conflict between the board’s adopted version of the IFC and the code.”

Howser stated that the Black Forest Fire Protection District (BFFPD) had chosen not to comment on the matter, its stance being that it will always recommend code compliance in lieu of making a formal recommendation one way or the other. Meggan Herington, executive director, Planning and Community Development, said that, unlike larger districts, BFFPD does not have a fire marshal looking specifically at fire code and the application of the IFC and so is choosing to stay neutral.

Nina Ruiz, Vertex Consulting Services, representing the applicant and speaking in justification of the cistern waiver, said the property was 2.5 miles from the fire station, which would allow for relaying fire trucks to fill up there should a fire occur. She also said the property was treeless and the homes would be spread apart, reducing the risk of fire jumping from one structure to another. BFFPD’s fire risk assessment has identified the property as having a low overall risk rating.

Commissioner Eric Moraes suggested, given the BOCC’s resolution, that a waiver was not really needed. Herington replied, “I would disagree with that because this section of the code I believe was written in 2014 and so my question is, ‘Why was this section of the land development code not amended to specify that minor subdivisions were not required to follow the land development code?’.”

Herington stated, “When we update the code next year, we really need to pay attention to this section of the land development code and what needs to be in it and what doesn’t need to be in it and where we would just reference International Fire Code.”

The vote to recommend both applications for approval was unanimous. They are now scheduled to be heard at the BOCC land use meeting on Nov. 9.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

Other El Paso County Planning Commission articles

El Paso Board of County Commissioners, Aug. 29 and Sept. 14, 26, and 28. Approvals for the Flying Horse North service plan and increased parking at Pumpkin Patch

By Helen Walklett

During September, the El Paso Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) approved the Flying Horse North (FHN) service plan with a total debt cap of $400 million, the largest of any El Paso County metro district. It also heard a special use application from Colorado Pumpkin Patch to increase the allowed parking numbers at its pumpkin patch. The commissioners also made decisions relating to a Tri-Lakes area property and received a Tri-Lakes Cares update.

Flying Horse North service plan

At the Sept. 28 BOCC land use meeting, the commissioners voted to approve the service plan for FHN Metropolitan Districts Nos. 1-5.

The application came to the BOCC from the Aug. 3 El Paso County Planning Commission hearing with a 5-3 vote recommending approval. The commissioners opposed at that meeting questioned the district’s financial ability to discharge the proposed indebtedness on a reasonable basis.

The 910-acre area covered by the plan is the property for which a revised sketch plan was approved in November 2022. See https://www.ocn.me/v22n12.htm#epbocc.

Attorney Russ Dykstra, partner, Spencer Fane, representing the applicants, said they had taken the Planning Commission’s concerns very seriously and had revised the financial plan after further analysis, reducing the estimated home values for the hotel and custom lot single-family homes to $3.5 million and the branded flats to $2.5 million. As a result, the maximum authorized debt limit had been reduced from $450 million to $400 million to reflect the reduced estimated debt capacity of the districts. The buildout has been extended from six to 11 years to address potential slowdowns in construction of the project. The service plan includes a debt service mill levy of 50 mills for commercial and residential property, and an operations and maintenance mill levy of 15 mills, for a total maximum combined mill levy of 65 mills.

Kari Parsons, senior planner, Planning and Community Development Department, said the statutory purposes of the district would be very standard and would include street improvements, the design, construction, and maintenance of drainage, sanitation, and recreation facilities, and covenant enforcement.

The residential portion of the development is about 844 acres and will be located in districts 2-4 with the commercial development being located in 1 and 5. Commissioner Longinos Gonzalez Jr. was concerned that District 1, which is commercial in nature, will be the operations and construction district with financial leadership. He asked if residents would ever be able to get control of that district. Meggan Herington, executive director, Planning and Community Development, said it was her understanding that property owners within the district would be in control of it, i.e., whoever owns the commercial property unless some residential is built on the portion for which nothing is yet planned.

During the public comment part of the hearing, three people spoke against the application. No one spoke in support.

Joe Hall, a High Forest Ranch resident, said the bond issuance is not reasonable because the applicant is relying heavily on a refinance in 10 years at a lower interest rate when financial projections beyond 10 years are highly unreliable. With regard to interest rates which the applicant had said would be at 4% in 2035, he commented, “I don’t know what it [the interest rate] is going to be but neither does the applicant. The amount of this debt issuance is more than $400,000 per approved lot. It’s nuts.”

FHN resident Phil Shecter, who has spoken against the FHN revised sketch plan in the past, addressed the hearing at length using time donated by others. He said wording in the applicant’s documentation allows property within five miles of the districts’ boundaries to be brought in and taxed despite county staff and the applicant saying the districts will not affect other properties. He questioned the justification for the service plan when there was no commitment from any hotel developer. Shecter also told the commissioners that neighbors to the 912 acres covered by the FHN sketch plan had received notification from the developer that it was proposing the sale of 50, 2.5-acre lots on well and septic. These would be within the metro districts’ boundaries but would get no benefit from that in terms of water and wastewater services. He urged the commissioners to deny the application until a hotel contract and a preliminary plan are in place.

Rick Stauch, a Cathedral Pines resident, spoke in his capacity as vice president of the Board of Directors of the Cathedral Pines Metropolitan District and to represent the homeowners associations of Cathedral Pines and the surrounding communities and the FHN residents. He said resale of the planned FHN properties would be difficult due to the tax structure because prospective buyers would be faced with very high property taxes. He questioned the assumption that a branded hotel will come given the limited year-round leisure activities in the area.

He asked, “Does this proposal demonstrate that the proposed districts have or will have the financial ability to discharge the proposed indebtedness on a reasonable basis? We don’t think so. I mean why would a homebuyer want to purchase a home in an area with some of the highest property taxes in the county when there are other desirable areas nearby that don’t have same the tax burden?” Stating that there are several problems with the service plan as written, with many ambiguities, inconsistencies, and inaccuracies, he urged the commissioners to have the applicant rewrite the plan. He ended, “The future residents of FHN need and frankly deserve your protection. Please do not approve this proposal.”

In rebuttal, Dykstra said the districts had no power to force property owners outside the boundaries to join them, but owners could petition to be allowed to join should they wish. Lori Seago, senior assistant county attorney, had earlier also clarified this, stating that it could not occur without the consent of the property owner. He said the presentation of the service plan was not premature as Shecter had suggested but necessary as the developer needed to know finance was available for the needed infrastructure before going any further.

Gonzalez voiced his concerns about the service plan and the economic feasibility of the project, citing other developments with much less debt maximums that were providing a lot more housing. “When we see something at $400 million of debt, it asks the question, you must ask the question “is this viable?’ He asked, “Is this project even viable if you’re having to ask for something that is twice as much as any other district is utilizing?”

He continued, “Does it make sense to do so [approve $400 million of debt for 900 homes] for what would be the richest neighborhood in entire El Paso County and have the most debt for a metro district? And why that concerns me secondarily is because we provide specific ownership tax to these projects. So, we are subsidizing in part to these projects.”

He said, “I still have great concerns about the fact that the way this district system is set up will not allow residents to have say in the way finances will happen. Now the applicant stated at some point the residents will take over but, as was stated before, by our planning director, District 1 has commercial and the fitness center but there was no stated specific plan for what would happen in that one corner of commercial. If it’s not commercial, then the whole district and the finances for the entire metro district will be planned by the fitness center. I don’t think that’s going to be sold to a third party, that’s going to be owned by the developer. The developer potentially will have control of this district forever and residents will never have a chance to have control of this metro district. That’s the possibility that exists with this. I think that’s unacceptable. We’re supposed to be representing everybody including the applicant but also the residents and if we’re not going to stand by residents having some kind of control, that doesn’t make sense to me.” “It doesn’t make sense and residents will look at us, El Paso County residents will look at us, and we lose credibility I think if this gets approved this way.”

Gonzalez then moved to deny but the motion failed as there was no second.

Commissioner Holly Williams said she appreciated the applicant’s effort to reduce the amount of debt being asked for and the extra fees placed on some of the commercial parts to help pay down the debt. She also stated the homeowners would have the opportunity to serve on the board. She moved to approve and was seconded by Commissioner Stan VanderWerf.

VanderWerf commented, “I really do appreciate the comments from Commissioner Gonzalez. Sometimes he is truly the conscience of some of the issues that we have before us. But we do have a severe, severe housing shortage and some people have a lot of money and can afford to do these kinds of things and other people don’t and we have to be responsible I think for a wide variety of people that have different levels of wealth.”

Gonzalez commented, “I think the application with all the inclusions is an insult to the public and to residents and all El Paso County.” He moved three amendments to the motion, but the legal advice was that they were beyond the scope of the board’s authority on the matter.

Gonzalez commented, “I absolutely believe we will lose credibility today based on what I’m about to see happen right now and people are going to respect this board less. I think I’m going to respect this board a lot less after what I am about to see.”

The vote to approve was 3-1. Gonzalez was the no vote and Commissioner Carrie Geitner was excused.

Gonzalez said, “I’d like us to look at our code again because if we’re going to approve this, we have no rationale to disapprove any in the future so we might as well give administrative control over metro districts to our director because I think she’ll probably do a better job than what I just saw today.”

Colorado Pumpkin Patch special use permit approved

At the Sept. 14 BOCC land use meeting, the commissioners approved a special use permit for an increase in parking numbers for the Colorado Pumpkin Patch at the Colorado Kids Ranch. The hearing lasted almost eight hours.

Above: Arguments were made both for and against the Colorado Pumpkin Patch’s proposed increase of parking space to accommodate its growing popularity at the Sept. 7 El Paso County Planning Commission meeting. The Planning Commission voted it down, but the El Paso Board of County Commissioners voted on Sept. 14 to allow the increase in parking as well as open a discussion to perhaps allow access to Highway 105. Photo by Chris Jeub.

The application came to the BOCC from the Sept. 7 Planning Commission meeting with a recommendation for denial by a 5-3 vote. The Planning Commission had concerns about traffic, neighborhood safety, and the number of vehicles permitted on-site. There was also significant discussion about the conditions of approval and the timing of required road improvements.

The 40-acre Monument property is located off Highway 105 and is zoned RR-5 (residential rural). Since 2018, owner John (JD) Chapman has operated an agritainment business which is a permitted use under the zoning and limits cars to a maximum of 50. The Pumpkin Patch operates for six weeks every year, beginning in late September. Chapman also holds a tulip festival over two weekends in May and runs summer youth camps. His nonprofit, the Johnny Pumpkinseed Program, allows families with foster or special needs children to enjoy the pumpkin patch for free.

As the pumpkin patch became more successful, the number of cars parking at the property exceeded the permitted 50. This generated complaints from neighbors which saw the county issue code violations and led to Chapman applying for a special use permit to increase the parking cap to 325. Although the property is adjacent to Highway 105, it does not have direct access to it and so visitors use Canterbury Drive and then the unpaved Saddlewood Road to reach the property.

The county has received a lot of correspondence about the traffic driving to and from the property, both in support and opposition. At the Planning Commission, neighbors raised concerns about traffic congestion, public safety, noise, dust, fire danger in a heavily wooded area with no hydrants, and littering.

Eleven citizens voiced these complaints again at the BOCC hearing. Neighbor Rikki Van Pelt said, “My kids personally were almost hit on our own property. We’ve had people drive through our backyard to try to find the pumpkin patch.” Other neighbors testified to the volume and speed of traffic making it dangerous to walk or ride horses in the neighborhood when the Pumpkin Patch is in operation. One neighbor stated that the particulates in the dust could stay airborne for 10 days and questioned what carcinogens or other contaminants might be in it.

Eleven citizens spoke in support, commenting that the patch provided good family entertainment in a safe place, created community, and gave families the opportunity to reconnect with agriculture and farming. Many commented that Chapman provides valuable work opportunities for young people and commended his mentoring of young employees.

The commissioners heard that county staff had recommended several road improvements both on and off the property to be paid for by Chapman as part of the special use permit and to mitigate the neighbors’ concerns. These include turn lanes on Highway 105 at Canterbury Drive, the paving of Saddlewood Road up to the property’s entrance, asphalt chippings in the parking lot and driveway, and a privacy fence on the western boundary. The recommendation was that all be completed by September 2024.

Nina Ruiz of Vertex Consulting Services, representing the owner, said Chapman was willing to make all the required improvements but would need longer to be able to afford them. Chapman is proposing an alternative timeline which would see the improvements completed in stages up to the end of 2028. Craig Dossey, also with Vertex, mentioned the cost of the improvements again as he argued for the special permit stating, “Quite frankly, if he’s [Chapman] asked to do $1 million of improvements, he needs to have more income. That’s business. That’s just good business. He can’t afford $1 million of improvements both onsite and offsite and operate six weeks of the year.”

Earlier in the year, Chapman applied for a deviation to allow direct access from Highway 105 which was denied as county plans to reduce the number of access points directly onto the highway as part of its Highway 105 Improvements Project. The proposed access would also have been too close to other access points, raising safety concerns. Both Ruiz and Dossey argued again for access direct from the highway during the events, stating this would also be the neighbors’ preferred solution and would reduce Chapman’s costs.

Addressing the commissioners, Dossey said, “Today’s the day to help a small business continue to survive.” He added, “Agricultural uses are going by the wayside. If we do not allow them to supplement their income, they will be gone.”

The vote to approve was 4-0 with Gonzalez absent. The commissioners adopted the longer time limits proposed by Chapman with the intention that the longer timeframe be used to explore further the possibility of access from Highway 105. Moving for approval, Commissioner Carrie Geitner said, “I’ll say for my part specifically, I’m not convinced that routing the traffic through the neighborhood is more safe than providing an additional access point [on Highway 105], and safety is a primary concern.”

The Pumpkin Patch opened for the 2023 season two days after the hearing, on Sept. 16. See photo and caption on page < 1 >.

Neighbor David Elson addressed the Sept. 23 Planning Commission meeting to thank the commissioners for their Sept. 7 decision on the application and to criticize that of the BOCC. He said, “Our neighborhood’s residents feel betrayed by the commissioners who cast aside our land code’s restrictions in favor of a specific interest and their own self-interest.” He continued, “The agritainment concept is relatively new, being adopted by the code in 2017. It was written specifically to enable the Colorado Pumpkin Patch to relocate from its proximity to Matthew Dunston’s Preserve at Walden housing development into our neighborhood, zoned residential.” “Having donated a 23-acre site for the construction of Monument Academy High School and after his donations of thousands of dollars to election campaign funds of current county commissioners, Matthew Dunston is the darling of the commissioners and the track record shows that what Matthew Dunston wants from the commissioners, he gets from the commissioners.”

He spoke again at the Sept. 28 BOCC land use meeting to suggest that Dunston had in some way influenced the decision, stating, “Why does he so dearly want 325 vehicles on the Colorado Pumpkin Patch property? Well, you don’t have to look any further than the fact that two years ago, he bought 40 acres 2,000 feet away from Colorado Pumpkin Patch on the east side of our Canterbury Estates neighborhood.” Elson ran out of time before he could explain further and said he would send that information to the commissioners via email.

Steppler Road rezone

Also at the Sept. 28 meeting, the commissioners voted to approve an application by Charlie Stewart to rezone his 36-acre property at 16850 Steppler Road, half a mile from the intersection of Settlers Ranch Road and Steppler Road, from RR-5 (residential rural) to RR 2.5 (residential rural).

The application was treated as a consent item, meaning there was no discussion. It came from the Sept. 7 Planning Commission meeting with a 6-1 vote recommending approval. Commissioner Brandy Merriam was the no vote due to concerns about losing land for livestock in the eastern part of the county.

The property currently consists of a single-family home and cattle/ranching infrastructure. The applicant’s intention is to plat 2.5-acre residential lots in the future.

Tri-Lakes Cares update

The commissioners approved the submission of a Community Services Block Grant application at the Sept. 26 meeting. Haley Chapin, executive director, Tri-Lakes Cares, which receives part of its funding through the grant, spoke in the public comment portion of the meeting to thank them, telling the commissioners that requests for support have not gone back to pre-pandemic levels but continue to increase. At the same time, available funding has been reduced as COVID-associated funding has been taken away. She said increasing inflation is also affecting many.

Commissioner Holly Williams said, “The money has now been cut back to what would now be a post-COVID level, which is what we expected, but there’s just a lot of struggles for many people in the community to feed their families.”

Chapin said the mix of clients seeking assistance had diversified a little more on the income continuum, “We are seeing people who make more and are now in need. It’s starting to creep into the middle-class space.”

Other decisions

  • Aug. 29—the commissioners approved the appointment of James Byers as a regular member of the Planning Commission. His term runs until Aug. 29, 2026.
  • Aug. 29—approved a special warranty deed and a temporary construction easement associated with the Beacon Lite Road/County Line Road improvements project. They are associated with property owned by David K. Chin and come at a cost of $19,000.

Helen Walklett can be reached at helenwalklett@ocn.me.

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